Thoracic Anesthesia at Mass General
In This Article
- The Thoracic Anesthesia team at Massachusetts General Hospital provides care during surgeries for lung and airway diseases or obstruction, voice preservation, and more
- The team continuously collaborates with Mass General surgeons as part of a coordinated team approach
- An in-depth annual report celebrates the team's accomplishments throughout 2022
The Thoracic Anesthesia team at Massachusetts General Hospital provides care during surgeries for lung and airway diseases or obstruction, voice preservation, thoracic outlet obstruction, tracheal stents, and reconstruction. Mass General thoracic anesthesiologists are highly specialized, and they aim to continuously collaborate with Mass General surgeons as part of a coordinated team approach that comprises skillful practice in surgery, anesthesia, and nursing.
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2022 Highlights and Accomplishments
Established Non-intubated Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery—The Mass General program is one of the only in the United States that can accomplish video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection while patients spontaneously breathe. It has established international collaborations with other programs to investigate this novel approach and received IRB approval to analyze its results. In 2023, the team is expanding the approach to patients with prior lung resection operations.
Implemented Non-Opioid Pain Management in Thoracic Surgery—The thoracic anesthesiology team has introduced a multi-modal pain regimen and regional techniques to the Mass General thoracic service. Ketamine infusion for patients undergoing thoracic outlet surgery has been established in collaboration with the acute pain service. Paravertebral block and serratus anterior block have been introduced to VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) procedure patients. Based on the team's experience with non-opioid pain management protocol, the anesthesiologists are working with their surgical colleagues to develop an ERAS program for VATS patients to improve Mass General patient perioperative outcomes.
Fostered Junior Faculty Development and Resident Interest in Thoracic Anesthesia—The thoracic anesthesia faculty has published several papers and reviews in this clinical area. One manuscript is in preparation to summarize the team's experience in airway operation, and one prospective study supported by a senior resident is currently underway.
View our 2022 Annual Report
Learn more about our anesthesia research programs, recent publications, and well-awarded grants in 2022