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Cohens Comprehensive Thoracic Anesthesia 1St Edition Edmond Cohen MD Online Ebook Texxtbook Full Chapter PDF
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Printed in India.
When I began my anesthesia practice, thoracic anesthesia including the use of extracorporeal ventilatory therapy. The
was not considered an independent subspecialty. Today, sixth section contains a large number of specifics in clinical
40 years later, it is one of the most challenging subspecial- scenarios and case management such as video-assisted tho-
ties, with innovations that include devices for lung isolation racoscopy, robotic surgery, tubeless procedures, and man-
and monitoring capability, new understanding of the intra- agement of both geriatric and cardiac patients for lung re-
operative managing of one lung ventilation, and a signifi- section. Other procedures include surgical and endoscopic
cant innovation in postoperative pain management. Over lung volume reduction, esophageal surgery, cystic fibrosis,
the years, thoracic workshops and thoracic symposiums lung transplantation, tracheal resection, mediastinoscopy,
have become integral during global anesthesia conferences. tracheal stents, and enhanced recovery after surgery dur-
Thoracic anesthesia literature is now indispensable to many ing thoracic surgery. Finally, the use of transesophageal
practicing clinician’s libraries. echocardiography and ultrasound for thoracic procedures
My intentions when editing this book were not to replace is discussed.
any thoracic anesthesia book, but rather to offer something I would like to thank the contributors for their fine
slightly more comprehensive in the critical and rapidly ex- and meticulous work, many of whom are directors of the
panding subspecialty of the anesthetic practice. I conceptu- thoracic division in their institutions. The team is truly in-
alized this volume to serve as a true contribution to the field ternational, with participants hailing from a vast array of
of thoracic anesthesia, appealing to clinicians who require countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany,
the necessary skills and updated principles of thoracic an- Spain, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Switzerland,
esthesia. The book is unique in that it redefines how we, The Netherlands, and China. This diverse team of contribu-
as anesthesiologists, can achieve superior patient care. The tors provides a wide range of perspective, with all contribu-
perioperative care is discussed linearly, just as we encounter tors adhering to the goal of this book, namely, keeping the
these situations in the hospital environment. focus for practicing clinicians. They have managed to sim-
The book contains 55 chapters divided into six sections. plify difficult concepts within thoracic anesthesia. Each has
The first section covers topics of pre-operative assessment succeeded admirably and helped produce what we hope will
including anatomic correlation of the respiratory system, contribute positively to the field of anesthesiology.
radiology, and classifications of thoracic tumors from the This book would not have been possible without the sup-
surgeon’s perspective, as well as pulmonary pathophysiolo- port of the editorial staff from Elsevier. I would like to thank
gy and the role of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. The Sarah Barth, Publisher, who enthusiastically supported the
second and the third sections cover preoperative evaluation project, navigating through the complexity to make this
and preparation, monitoring of oxyanion and hemody- book a reality. I would also like to thank Deborah Poulson,
namics, and the role of bronchoscopy and high frequency Content Development Specialist, for her advice and lead-
ventilation during thoracic procedures. The fourth sec- ership throughout the process. Additionally, I would like
tion describes the intraoperative management of one-lung to thank Beula Christopher, Senior Project Manager, who
ventilation, methods of lung separation, ventilatory strat- oversaw production and printing.
egies, fluid management, and pediatric patient care. The Finally, thank you to my wife Myra and my children Jen-
fifth section reviews the multimodal approach to acute and nifer and Adam, who welcomed this book into our family
chronic pain management and postoperative complications rather than viewing it as an intruder.
vi
Foreword
THE GROWTH OF THORACIC ANESTHESIA preoperative care through the intraoperative period and into
the postoperative management of these patients. The pre-
Cardiothoracic anesthesia is the largest and most complex operative preparation of patients with extensive pulmonary
subspecialty of anesthesiology. The patients often are very disease has always been a challenging area that has not had
high risk, with pulmonary, cardiac, and systemic comor- enough attention paid to it. Recently, thoracic prehabilita-
bidities, and the surgical procedures may produce signifi- tion, including chest physiotherapy and exercise training,
cant physiologic challenges to the anesthesiologist. Within has been introduced and appears to help reduce respiratory
the broad field of cardiothoracic anesthesia, thoracic anes- complications and hospital length of stay, as well as improve
thesia has developed into a field of its own, separate from outcomes. During many thoracic surgeries, lung separation
cardiac anesthesia. This direction became obvious to me is critical. Dr. Cohen introduced one of the new bronchial
in the 1980s, with the increasing number of more com- blockers for this purpose. These types of bronchial blockers,
plex operations for lung and esophageal cancers, and new or the new disposable double-lumen tubes, are placed with
approaches to other intrathoracic diseases including medias- fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance for newer procedures
tinal masses, tracheal lesions, and thoracic trauma. This led such as video-assisted or robotic thoracic surgery, as well as
to the first edition of my textbook entitled Thoracic Anesthe- for standard open thoracic surgery. All of these techniques
sia published in 1983, which was dedicated to improving and their related physiologic changes are discussed in detail
the care of patients undergoing noncardiac thoracic surgery. throughout this book.
It described the anesthetic agents used at the time such as Thoracic surgery can produce one of the most painful
thiopental and halothane, and anesthetic techniques using acute postoperative experiences for a patient and may be
reusable red rubber double-lumen tubes. Thoracic Anesthe- followed by a chronic pain syndrome. Thoracic epidural
sia served as a companion to my earlier Cardiac Anesthesia anesthesia, paravertebral blocks, and intercostal blocks have
text, published in 1979. These books gave straightforward, been used for years to try to alleviate the postoperative pain,
distinct names to the new subspecialties in an era when sub- with some degree of success. However, in recent years, new
specialization in anesthesiology was controversial and most fascial plane blocks, such as the serratus anterior plane block
practitioners were generalists. Over the ensuing four decades, and the erector spinae plane block, have been introduced
other textbooks by Marshall, Benumof, and Slinger, dealing and have replaced some of the older techniques in many
with anesthesia for thoracic surgery, have described further practices. These new blocks appear to be easier to perform,
developments in the field, and now Cohen’s Comprehensive are safer, and highly effective for many patients. They are
Thoracic Anesthesia presents the modern state of the art in now becoming part of the enhanced recovery after surgery
this well-recognized subspecialty. protocols in many institutions.
From 1983 to 1998, I served as Professor and Chairman Over the past few years, the world has experienced
of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Mount Sinai the COVID-19 pandemic, and this pandemic has had
School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York an enormous impact on anesthesia for thoracic surgery.
City. Dr. Cohen was one of our early residents, who then Multiple international organizations have created guide-
decided to take a cardiothoracic fellowship year with our very lines for the management of these patients and their sur-
popular program in which most of the fellows were focused geries. Aerosol-generating procedures, such as intubation
on anesthesia for cardiac surgical procedures. Recognizing and extubation, have placed all of us at increased risk, and
the potential growth of thoracic surgery, I suggested that he have led to the introduction of many new isolation devices
focus on the noncardiac thoracic procedures as a thoracic for operating rooms and intensive care units. COVID-
anesthesia specialist. The rest is history, as Dr. Cohen has 19 has further expanded the expertise and increased the
become a full professor and one of the educational leaders respect of the skilled practitioners caring for these very
in the field who has lectured around the world, organized sick patients in the operating rooms and critical care units
technical workshops at all the major anesthetic meetings, of our hospitals.
and published extensively in the field, culminating with this The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
important and timely textbook. (JCVA), for which I serve as Editor-in-Chief, is now in its
The 55 chapters of Cohen’s Comprehensive Thoracic Anes- 35th year, and Dr. Cohen has served as a senior member
thesia cover the entire perioperative experience from the of the editorial board for most of that time, while helping
vii
viii Foreword
to expand the publications in thoracic anesthesia. He has textbook on anesthesia for thoracic surgery and related
been a very active participant as author and editor as the procedures.
field has further expanded into new techniques for lung
transplantation and extracorporeal membrane oxygen- Joel A. Kaplan, MD
ation for intraoperative and postoperative support. I fully Professor of Anesthesiology
appreciate all that he has done for the subspecialty of tho- University of California San Diego
racic anesthesia including his leadership as an editor of the Dean Emeritus, School of Medicine
JCVA, and, now as the editor of the most comprehensive University of Louisville
Contributors
ix
x Contributors
xvi
Contents xvii
30 The Patient With Cardiovascular Disease for 46 Thoracic Approach to Spine Procedures, 678
Lung Resection Surgery, 423 David M. Shapiro, Baron Lonner, Lily Eaker, Jonathan Gal
Anahita Dabo-Trubelja, Gregory W. Fischer
47 Myasthenia Gravis and Thymectomy, 688
31 Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy: Multiportal Daniel Blech, James B. Eisenkraft
Uniportal, 438
Zerrin Sungur, Mert Şentürk 48 Hemoptysis, Empyema, 696
Mohamed R. El Tahan
32 Endoscopic Treatment of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease, 468 49 Thoracic Anesthesia in the Morbidly Obese
Timothy J. Harkin, John Pawlowski Patient: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, 713
George W. Kanellakos, Jay B. Brodsky
33 Thoracic Trauma, 488
Alf Kozian, Moritz A. Kretzschmar 50 Cystic Fibrosis, 729
Giorgio Della Rocca, Alessandra Della Rocca
34 Mediastinal Mass and Superior Vena Cava
Syndrome, 501 51 Tracheal Stents, 741
Daniel Kalowitz, Menachem M. Weiner Karen McRae
1
The Development of Thoracic
Anesthesia and Surgery
MARCELLE BLESSING, KEI SATOH, EDMOND COHEN
1
2 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
and the collapsed lung would paradoxically expand dur- than one lobe.6 Clearly, surgeons and patients needed safer,
ing expiration and collapse during inspiration. To further less harmful solutions.
terrify the surgeon, vigorous side-to-side movement of the
mediastinum could occur, known as “mediastinal flapping,” Differential Pressure Breathing
that could compress the nonoperative lung. In the lateral
decubitus position, it would result in “mediastinal shift” The German surgeon Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch devel-
and hypotension. Not surprisingly, respiratory and hemo- oped the first promising solution to the “pneumothorax
dynamic compromise would ensue as the patient would problem.” In 1893, his mentor, Johann von Mikulicz-
struggle to breathe spontaneously. Hence most thoracic Radecki, urged him to address the difficulty of operating
procedures were limited to the extrathoracic chest wall until with an open pneumothorax. His solution, differential
the 1930s. Only very brief intrathoracic procedures were pressure breathing, became the principal method for man-
possible without patient asphyxiation. agement of ventilation in thoracic surgery until World War
Most areas of surgery flourished after the discovery of II. In Sauerbruch’s experiments on dogs, he found that,
inhalational anesthesia in the 1840s, and the delivery of during thoracotomy, spontaneous ventilation was main-
general anesthesia became routine. Until the 1930s, de- tained and the lung did not collapse if it was exposed to
livery of inhalational anesthesia was typically by mask or a pressure 10 cm H2O below atmospheric pressure.7 After
open drop administration, using ether or chloroform with his experimental thoracotomies on dogs, he applied the
or without nitrous oxide. Because patients would typically technique to humans (Fig. 1.1). To maintain the negative
breathe spontaneously, they could control their own depth pressure, a large negative pressure chamber was needed that
of anesthesia with their own respirations. Muscle relaxants would maintain the normal negative intrapleural pressure.
were not developed yet, and endotracheal intubation was The patient and surgical team were placed within the steel
considered an invasive procedure and only rarely used by a negative pressure chamber while the patient’s head pro-
few experts. Most thoracic procedures performed were the truded from the chamber and was exposed to atmospheric
same pathology that concerned Celsus 2000 years ago: man- pressure. With the negative pressure applied directly to the
agement of empyema, pulmonary abscess, and tuberculosis. lung, the patient could breathe spontaneously and the lung
Without antibiotics, patients would frequently present for would remain inflated.
surgery with copious secretions and formidable coughs. It Sauerbruch championed his pneumatic chamber tech-
was common to keep a patient only lightly anesthetized to nique as a physiologic method, and differential pressure
keep the cough reflex intact to protect the lungs from gastric breathing was widely adapted. However, Sauerbruch’s
aspiration and to allow the patient to clear their own copi- method was very impractical because of the large, expen-
ous secretions. Envisioning a harrowing scene of a lightly sive, negative pressure chamber that was needed. Operating
anesthetized patient choking on their secretions with an un- conditions were less than ideal. Rudolph Nissen described
protected airway, it is hardly surprising that thoracic surgery the limitations of this operating suite: “the surgeon and his
remained in its infancy well into the 20th century. Better assistants had very little room to move; the heat was al-
operating conditions and improved anesthesia techniques most unbearable; and, finally, it was extremely difficult to
were needed to allow thoracic surgery to flourish. communicate satisfactorily with the anesthetist outside the
Before the discovery of antibiotics, most thoracic proce- chamber.”8 An anesthetist would be outside the chamber at
dures were performed to treat infection, opening the pleu- the patient’s airway and could only communicate with the
ral cavity did not always result in an open pneumothorax
because prolonged infections often resulted in adhesions
between the lung and chest wall with a loculated empyema.
The utility of these adhesions was known, and repeated as-
pirations were sometimes attempted to promote adhesion
formation before surgery. Alternatively, air or water could
be injected into the pleural space as an irritant to promote
adhesion formation preoperatively.3,4 “Muller’s handgrip”
was another primitive method used to cope with the pneu-
mothorax problem: while the chest was open, the surgeon
would pull the lung into the wound to plug the thoracot-
omy incision.5 Pulmonary resections were frequently per-
formed in a staged manner and had a very high mortality.
A snare or tourniquet technique would be used to facilitate
a quick resection, and then a reoperation would be needed
to remove necrotic tissue later. It is not surprising that sep- • Fig. 1.1 Sauerbruch’s experimental negative pressure box for per-
forming thoracotomies on dogs. The dog’s chest is enclosed in the
sis was not uncommon from the remaining necrotic tissue. box, in which the pressure is −10 mm Hg (1904). (From Mushin WW,
A review from 1922 reported a mortality rate of 42% for Rendell-Baker L, eds. The Principles of Thoracic Anesthesia. Spring-
lobectomy, and as high as 70% for cases that involved more field, IL: Charles C Thomas; 1953. Copyright Wiley-Blackwell.)
CHAPTER 1 The Development of Thoracic Anesthesia and Surgery 3
surgeon within the chamber by phone over the loud whir- respirations to assist with ventilation. Remarkably, although
ring of pumps. this method of preserving respiration with an open chest
A more practical alternative method for using differential seems so cumbersome to modern readers, Sauerbruch and
pressure to maintain lung inflation was developed in par- his followers felt it was endotracheal intubation that was
allel by a colleague of Sauerbruch’s, Ludolph Brauer. His impractical and unsafe. Meyer felt “combining intubation
alternative method for using differential pressure breathing and masks appears so manifestly inadequate and dangerous
was published alongside Sauerbruch’s. Brauer’s method used for everyday surgery that it cannot deserve preference over
a positive pressure chamber to increase the intrapulmonary apparatus leaving the mouth of the patient unincumbered
pressure. Brauer’s chamber was simply a large box and the [sic].”10
patient’s head was placed within it after the induction of
anesthesia, and anesthesia was maintained with the patient
breathing oxygen and chloroform spontaneously. Before the Tracheal Insufflation and Endotracheal
chest was opened, compressed air would be added to the Anesthesia
chamber to raise the pressure above atmospheric pressure,
and this would prevent the development of an open pneu- Tracheal insufflation anesthesia, an alternative method
mothorax. The anesthetist would have no access to the head for preventing the development of the open pneumotho-
during the procedure.7 Brauer’s design resembles specialized rax, became popular in America in the early 20th century.
helmets developed for delivering continuous positive airway This new method is the clear precursor to the endotracheal
pressure (CPAP) or for noninvasive ventilation that could anesthesia we use today. Because of widespread skepticism
be used for treating respiratory failure.9 about the routine use of tracheal intubation, the develop-
Although Brauer’s positive pressure technique was sim- ment did not follow a smooth path. Tracheal intubation
pler than Sauerbruch’s, Sauerbruch had his devotees in Eu- and mechanical ventilation were not new discoveries; many
rope and the United States. In 1909, the American surgeon pioneers deserve credit in the development of intubation,
Willy Meyer created his own “universal differential pressure laryngoscopy, and positive pressure ventilation, especially
chamber,” a modified version of Sauerbruch’s negative pres- considering how much skepticism they faced.
sure chamber.10 Meyer’s chamber was even more complicated Andreas Vesalius used tracheal intubation for positive
than Sauerbruch’s; it included both a positive and negative pressure ventilation of a pig in 1543. He performed a tra-
pressure chamber. The overall chamber was 1000 cubic feet cheotomy and passed a reed into the trachea of a pig and
in volume and could contain up to 17 people. The patient, blew into the tube to provide artificial ventilation during
anesthetist, and an assistant could be enclosed in the posi- a thoracotomy and thus prevented a potentially fatal open
tive pressure chamber within the negative pressure room. pneumothorax. His findings went unnoticed and were
By using both chambers, the normal negative intrapleural only later rediscovered. In 1788, Charles Kite resuscitated
pressure gradient could be maintained, either by applying victims of drowning from the River Thames using curved
positive pressure to the head, negative pressure to the open metal cannulas that he placed blindly in the trachea. Soon
chest, or both. Meyer described “if the differential pressure after the development of inhalational anesthesia, there were
in the universal pressure is composed of part vacuum and early enthusiasts trying to apply these resuscitation tech-
part pressure, only the patient is exposed to the full differen- niques to anesthesia delivery. In 1869, Friedrich Trendelen-
tial, while all others are exposed only to the component… burg used a tracheostomy tube with an inflatable cuff to
the anesthetizer to the positive fraction and the surgeon… administer chloroform during head and neck surgery. Wil-
to the negative fraction, which still more reduces any pos- liam MacEwan, a Scottish surgeon, is credited with the first
sibility of detrimental effects on the users of the chamber.” use of oral endotracheal intubation for an anesthetic. On
This was the only negative pressure chamber built for this July 5, 1878, MacEwan placed a flexible metal tube in the
purpose in America, and Meyer also used it for improving larynx of an awake patient who was to have an oral tumor
wound drainage and lung expansion postoperatively.11 removed at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.12 In 1885, Joseph
Both the positive pressure and negative pressure meth- O’Dwyer, a pediatrician unaware of earlier uses of intuba-
ods relied on maintaining a pressure gradient between the tion, performed blind oral tracheal intubations on children
air outside and within the lungs, otherwise known as dif- suffering from diphtheria.13 O’Dwyer designed a rigid tube
ferential pressure breathing. Differential pressure breathing with a conical tip that could occlude the larynx to facilitate
was successful at preventing the formerly inevitable open positive-pressure ventilation. In 1893, George Fell attached
pneumothorax after thoracotomy; however, it was doomed O’Dwyer’s metal tube to a bellows and T-piece, creating the
to become a historical relic because it provided dangerously Fell-O’Dwyer apparatus. Fell used the apparatus to provide
inadequate ventilation. Hypoventilation, hypercarbia, hy- ventilatory support for opiate-induced respiratory depres-
poxemia, and impaired venous return were significant prob- sion (Fig. 1.2).
lems during prolonged cases and clinical deterioration was By the 1890s, there was interest in applying endotracheal
not uncommon. Meyer attributed the cause of unexplained anesthesia technique to thoracic surgery in an attempt to
shock to hypercarbia, and he recommended applying rhyth- prevent the pneumothorax problem. In 1896, the French
mic variations in pressure coordinated with spontaneous surgeons Tuffier and Hallion reported on their use of tracheal
4 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
performed the first two-stage pneumonectomy in 1931, exposed to ambient pressure, this lung isolation technique
soon followed by Evarts Graham’s one-stage total pneumo- also provided the advantage of an immobile lung and a quiet
nectomy for lung cancer in 1933.27,28 The trajectory of tho- surgical field. Their technique was elegant in its simplicity,
racic surgery was changing; opening the chest had been so but not widely practiced because blind placement was dif-
risky that it had been reserved only for refractory infections, ficult and tube positioning could be unstable.
but now the role of thoracic surgery for treating malignancy Rovenstine tried to improve upon Gale and Waters’ en-
could flourish and overshadow its use for the treatment of dobronchial technique. In 1936, he described the use of a
infection. The addition of routine postoperative pleural single lumen endobronchial tube with two cuffs that could
drainage in the 1930s by closed chest thoracostomy also ventilate either one lung or both.33 The endobronchial tube
aided surgical progress. Advances in esophageal surgery also was made of woven silk and would be molded in hot water
occurred in the 1930s. The first transthoracic esophagec- to have a lateral curve, and then advanced blindly into ei-
tomy with an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis was ther bronchus as Gale and Waters described. If only the up-
performed successfully in Japan in 1933.29 Thoracic surgery per cuff was inflated above the carina, both lungs could be
was starting to flourish as thoracic anesthesia improved. ventilated. The endobronchial cuff would occlude the other
mainstem bronchus when inflated, thus enabling OLV. This
tube also did not gain wide popularity because of the dif-
Thoracic Surgery Under Regional ficulty and instability of placement.
Anesthesia
Bronchial Blockade
Regional anesthesia for thoracic surgery had its advocates
before the 1940s. Proponents of regional anesthesia claimed The initial use of bronchial blockers also began in the
its safety because it kept the cough reflex intact and main- 1930s. By placing a foreign body to obstruct ventilation in
tained spontaneous ventilation. These are still valuable attri- the intended bronchus to a lung or lobe, ventilation is inter-
butes of regional anesthesia. In a 1936 review of thoracic rupted, and the unventilated lung distal to the obstruction
anesthesia, Magill describes spinal anesthesia as an excel- will collapse. Archibald described the first use of a bronchial
lent technique for a wide range of thoracic procedures, even blocker in 1935; he used an inflatable balloon attached to
pneumonectomy! He recognized that regional anesthesia is the end of a rubber catheter to occlude the main bronchus
best for cooperative patients, as it still is today. The awake of the affected lung during lobectomy and prevent con-
patient could assist more easily with breath-holding because tamination by spillage of pus to the healthy lung. He used
controlled ventilation was not routine during general anes- x-ray films to confirm appropriate placement.34 Because of
thesia.30 Not everyone was so enamored with spinal anes- its complexity, this particular technique with x-ray guid-
thesia for thoracic surgery. Nosworthy declared, “I like my ance did not gain popularity, however, the use of a balloon
anesthetic technique to be such that I have the whole situ- for bronchial blockade had significant potential and would
ation under control. I do not feel that I am in a position to undergo several refinements and is still used today.
cope with any emergency when chest surgery is performed Magill improved Archibald’s design. In 1936, he used a
under spinal anesthesia.”31 Nosworthy went on to describe an similar bronchial blocker but placed it under direct vision
inadequate cough reflex and frequent dyspnea during open using a tracheoscope, thus eliminating the need for x-ray
chest procedures under spinal anesthesia. It is interesting that guidance. His bronchial blocker was a long tube with a bal-
tubeless thoracic procedures are presently gaining widespread loon at the distal end and was inserted alongside an endo-
popularity because of concerns that positive pressure ventila- tracheal tube. Magill recommended the use of the blocker
tion has the potential to injure the lung parenchyma. for the control of secretions, and it had a suction catheter
for the blocked lung. Magill realized the blocker could im-
Emergence of One-Lung Ventilation prove surgical exposure by causing atelectasis of the opera-
tive lung. He recommended placement after topicalizing the
The union of direct laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, cuffed larynx but before induction of general anesthesia, so that se-
endotracheal tubes, and controlled ventilation set the stage cretions could be suctioned during induction. In addition,
for the development of OLV in the 1930s. Lung separation Magill designed an endobronchial tube for lung separation;
for prevention of contamination or for surgical exposure was his endobronchial tube was also placed under direct vision
the next frontier. Lung surgery was still frequently performed using an endoscope through its lumen.30 Many other instru-
for infection, and spillage from the infected lung was a fre- ments were used to provide bronchial blockade before the
quent problem in the setting of copious secretions. Gale and development of the plastic bronchial blockers that are cur-
Waters published the first use of OLV for thoracic surgery rently used. In 1938, Crafoord used a ribbon gauze tampon
in 1931.32 They used a long standard rubber Guedel-Waters for the control of secretions for “bronchial tamponage.” The
tube that was softened with hot water to have a lateral bend. tampon was inserted using a rigid bronchoscope into the se-
It was placed in the trachea, and then blindly advanced into lected bronchus, while the healthy lung was ventilated by an
either bronchus until resistance was met. In addition to pre- endotracheal tube at the carina.35 None of these techniques
venting the “pneumothorax problem” by isolating the lung were commonly used because they required considerable
CHAPTER 1 The Development of Thoracic Anesthesia and Surgery 7
Mechanical Ventilation
Although the “pneumothorax problem” was solved by the
application of positive pressure to the lungs, the routine use
of intermittent positive pressure ventilation was impracti-
cal before the development of mechanical ventilation and
muscle relaxation. Mechanical ventilators were not routinely
used in the OR until the 1960s to 1970s, only after their
• Fig. 1.5The Frenckner Spiropulsator (1934). Note the endotracheal
acceptance in the intensive care unit. Meltzer and Auer used tube with cuff lying to the right. (From Mushin WW, Rendell-Baker L,
curare in their animal studies of tracheal insufflation, but it eds. The Principles of Thoracic Anesthesia. Springfield, IL: Charles C
was not used as part of general anesthetic in a human until Thomas; 1953. Copyright Wiley-Blackwell.)
1942 when Griffith and Johnson used it for an appendec-
tomy.53 Harroun used curare with nitrous oxide and mor-
phine as a general anesthetic for thoracic surgery, a useful new In 1952, an epidemic of poliomyelitis in Copenhagen
technique because it included a nonflammable agent that per- inundated Blegdam’s hospital where 3000 patients present-
mitted the use of electrocautery.54 Curare was soon replaced ed with polio, one-third of them presented with paralysis.
by safer neuromuscular agents, and neuromuscular blockade Faced with so many patients in need of respiratory support,
became a routine component of general anesthesia. Muscle the hospital sought help from Bjorn Ibsen, an anesthesi-
relaxants facilitate the use of controlled ventilation by sup- ologist. Ibsen advocated for performing tracheostomies and
pressing spontaneous respiratory efforts, essentially replacing providing controlled ventilation to weak children to increase
the hyperventilation method that was used in the past. their survival.56 At first the hospital had few mechanical
Examples of early ventilators have already been mentioned ventilators, so medical students squeezed breathing bags in
here, such as the Fell-O’Dwyer apparatus from 1892, and shifts until more ventilators were acquired. Ibsen’s aggressive
Matas’ modification of the Fell-O’Dwyer apparatus into a treatment was a success; survival rates increased dramatically,
primitive anesthesia machine by incorporating manometry and the modern intensive care unit was born and the iron
and the delivery of inhalational anesthesia. Innovations by lung abandoned. Once the ventilator could be used inside
Scandinavian surgeons and anesthesiologists bridged the gap and outside the OR, postoperative ventilatory support was
between these early ventilators and the modern ones. Giertz, inevitable. In 1955, Björk and Engstrom used postopera-
the student of Sauerbruch’s who proved the superiority of in- tive mechanical ventilation for their frailest thoracic surgi-
termittent ventilation over constant tracheal insufflation, in- cal patients.57 After acceptance outside the OR, mechanical
spired Frenckner, a Swedish otolaryngologist, to develop the ventilators finally gained acceptance in ORs in the 1960s.
“Spiropulsator” in 1934 for intermittent inflation of the lungs.
Frenckner’s colleague, Crafoord, included a reservoir bag to
permit spontaneous respirations, to prevent the patient from Improvements in Intraoperative
“fighting” the ventilator because muscle relaxation was not yet Monitoring
available.55 After intubation under local anesthesia, Crafoord
and Frenckner’s patients were ventilated by the “Spiropulsator” Complex intraoperative patient monitors are ubiquitous today
during thoracic surgery. Use of this ventilator was common in and mandated by the American Society of Anesthesiologists;
Scandinavia, but there was limited interest in controlled venti- however, before the 1960s, intraoperative monitoring consisted
lation elsewhere in the 1930s and 1940s (Fig. 1.5). of merely observation of color, palpation, and auscultation. An
CHAPTER 1 The Development of Thoracic Anesthesia and Surgery 9
anesthesiologist had only a blood pressure cuff, electrocardio- Even with 100% oxygen delivery during OLV, hypox-
gram, and esophageal stethoscope to rely on. Hypoxemia was emia was still common because of blood shunted through
only detected by the presence of peripheral cyanosis, frequently, the nonventilated lung. CPAP and PEEP are two ventila-
a late, subjective, and unreliable sign. Although the develop- tory maneuvers for respiratory support outside the OR, and
ment of accurate invasive monitoring of peripheral arterial, have both been applied to improve oxygenation in OLV. In
pulmonary arterial, and central venous pressures have helped 1971, CPAP was first described for use in infants with idio-
guide care in the OR, it is the development of noninvasive pathic respiratory distress syndrome.62 CPAP can be applied
monitors of oxygenation and ventilation that have become to the nonventilated lung to improve oxygenation by apneic
crucial elements of providing safe anesthesia for all types of oxygenation, and it has been used for this purpose since the
surgery, and for OLV especially. In 1942, Glen Millikan devel- 1980s. Its limitation is that it may interfere with surgical
oped the first oximeter for the ear, intended for use by pilots in exposure, so it has a limited use during thoracoscopic pro-
World War II to warn them of hypoxia from an oxygen supply cedures.63 PEEP is typically applied to the ventilated lung
failure. In 1972, Takuo Aoyagi, a Japanese engineer, invented to improve oxygenation and to prevent atelectasis during
the first pulse oximeter that could measure pulse in addition to OLV.64 High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) with oxygen
oximetry.58 Pulse oximetry gained acceptance in the ORs in the to the nondependent lung has also been used during OLV
1980s. Severinghaus declared, “Pulse oximetry is arguably the to improve oxygenation.65 HFJV uses a jet of fresh gas de-
most important technologic advance ever made in monitoring livered from a high-pressure source into the airway at a high
the well-being and safety of patients during anesthesia, recovery rate (100–150 breaths per minute) either through a small
and critical care.”59 Needless to say, pulse oximetry has become catheter or a rigid bronchoscope. Because the tidal volumes
the most important monitoring device during OLV. The rec- are so small, the lung remains collapsed in the surgical field.
ognition of potential hypoxemia caused by the transpulmonary HFJV is useful in many situations, such as ventilating pa-
shunt can be closely and continuously monitored. tients with bronchopleural fistulas, for patients with tracheal
The history of capnography mirrors the development of stenosis, or for those undergoing tracheal surgery. Today, the
pulse oximetry. The initial application of infrared absorp- use of HFJV has extended outside of the OR, finding a role
tion to measure expired carbon dioxide occurred in 1943, in procedures where minimization of chest wall movement
but capnography was not used widely intraoperatively un- is desirable, such as cardiac ablations, stereotactic tumor
til the 1980s.60 It practically eliminated the incidence of ablations, and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.66
accidental esophageal intubation. With good noninvasive
monitors of oxygenation and ventilation, the need for the Development of Postoperative Analgesia
direct measurement of arterial blood gases has decreased
but has not been eliminated. Both provide rapid and con- Advances in pain management have improved care for
tinuous guides to gas exchange and help guide when direct patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Severe pain results
blood gas measurements are needed. from thoracotomy incisions, and postthoracotomy pain has
Additional monitors continue to be developed. With the a profound impact on recovery after surgery by interfering
declining popularity of pulmonary catheters, several non- with the return of pulmonary function. Also, inadequate
invasive methods for assessing cardiac output have been treatment of acute pain following thoracic surgery can
developed using a variety of techniques: transthoracic bio- contribute to the development of disabling chronic pain.
impedance monitors, esophageal dopplers, and monitors of Awareness by anesthesiologists and thoracic surgeons of the
arterial pulse wave analysis. Each of these techniques has its impact of inadequately managed acute pain on morbidity
own limitations, and only time will tell whether they will has sparked the development of multiple modalities of pain
gain popularity for monitoring the thoracic surgical patient. management. Before the 1980s, the only option for patients
was systemic opioids, frequently administered intramuscu-
Improvements in Ventilation larly. Today, options include systemic opioids, nonopioid
analgesics, regional nerve blocks, and epidural local anesthe-
In 1956, halothane was introduced in England, and it rap- sia and epidural opioids. All can be delivered using patient-
idly replaced ether and cyclopropane for several reasons. controlled analgesia. Recently, emphasis has steered toward
Its favorable safety profile, high potency, less noxious odor, nonopioid analgesics and nonepidural regional anesthesia to
nonflammability, and favorable kinetics with rapid induc- try to optimize postoperative analgesia but minimize side
tion and emergence made it preferable to its predecessors.61 effects. Between the variety of pharmacologic agents avail-
Halothane’s potency eliminated the need for supplemental able and the possibility of multimodal analgesia, the options
nitrous oxide during OLV. Without nitrous oxide, hypox- for patients are numerous, and analgesic regimens can be
emia was less likely. Because of halothane’s ability to cause individually tailored to patient needs.
hepatotoxicity and cardiac arrhythmias, it has largely been The introduction of neuraxial opioids to the analgesic
replaced by newer potent volatile agents, such as isoflurane, armamentarium was an early improvement in regional an-
sevoflurane, and desflurane. The practices of using potent esthesia. Thoracic epidural analgesia had been attempted for
inhaled agents without nitrous oxide remains common postthoracotomy pain, but when limited to local anesthet-
during OLV. ics, hypotension was frequently encountered, so this method
10 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
was not considered viable for routine use.67 The first advocate development. Lung cancer continues to be a major public health
for the use of neuraxial opioids was Rudolf Matas himself, problem, with 228,150 estimated new cases of lung cancer in the
who, in 1900, combined morphine with cocaine for spinal United States in 2019.78 Since the development of antibiotics,
anesthesia to reduce the excitatory effect on the central ner- malignancy has been the most common indication for pulmo-
vous system caused by cocaine.68 Interest in neuraxial opioid nary surgery. However, important procedures for nonmalignant
use remained dormant until the 1970s. In 1979, Behar et al., disease, such as lung transplantation and lung volume reduction
first described the use of epidural morphine for the treatment surgery (LVRS), are now performed routinely at academic cen-
of pain, and noted its long duration of action.69 Numerous ters, thus making the frailest patients surgical candidates. Lung
studies have demonstrated the advantages of epidural over in- transplantation has increased from 33 transplants performed in
travenous opioid analgesia. Because of this, thoracic epidural the United States in 1988 to 2501 in 2019.79 The most common
analgesia using opioids combined with low dose local anes- indications for transplantation are severe chronic obstructive
thetics became the gold standard for postthoracotomy pa- respiratory disease (COPD), followed by idiopathic pulmonary
tients, and the use of epidural catheters for postoperative pain fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, and pri-
management has contributed to the development of acute mary pulmonary hypertension. LVRS is an option for patients
pain services and expanded the perioperative role of anesthe- with COPD to try and decrease the frequency and severity of
siologists.70,71 The trend of less invasive surgical techniques are debilitating symptoms; however, the surgery remains controver-
currently frequently used, therefore, there has been a focus on sial because of the high cost of the surgery and rehabilitation,
less invasive analgesia. Paravertebral blockade has received at- limited improvement, and the high morbidity and mortality
tention as an alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia. Many postoperatively. Alternative, nonsurgical approaches includes
studies have demonstrated the analgesic equivalence between Endoscopic lung volume reduction which encompasses endo-
the two techniques, whereas paravertebral blocks consistently bronchial insertion of bronchial valves, injection of tissue fibrin
have fewer side effects.72 glue, endobronchial stents insertion, or coils insertion are non-
However, although paravertebral blockade has become a surgical approaches to treat end stage emphysema.
popular alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia, it is still a Progress in surgical treatment of patients with such
deep block with many of the same limitations and contrain- compromised pulmonary function has increased the need
dications as neuraxial blockade, with the added risk of pneu- for anesthesiologists to be involved as perioperative and
mothorax. This has ushered a new interest in fascial plane pain physicians, in addition to their role intraoperatively.
blocks that are easier to perform with good efficacy and an Careful preoperative evaluation of patients for thoracic
improved safety profile. Routine use of ultrasound for re- surgery is crucial so that anesthetic management can be
gional anesthesia has helped spur the development of these tailored appropriately, and that often includes making ap-
fascial plane blocks. Fascial plane blocks that have been used propriate plans for postoperative management. Anesthe-
for thoracic surgery include serratus anterior, erector spinae, siologists are increasingly involved in pain management,
and pectoralis blocks. Further investigation is warranted, as well as management of the sickest patients who require
however, studies have suggested that serratus anterior block- intensive care unit stays postoperatively. Because of the va-
ade provides improved analgesia for patients undergoing riety of roles anesthesiologists fill when caring for patients
both thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery undergoing thoracic surgery, care for these patients exem-
(VATS), and may be comparable to paravertebral blockade plifies the expanded role of anesthesiologists as periopera-
in certain situations.73–75 Evidence for the efficacy of erector tive physicians.
spinae blockade for thoracic surgery is still limited to case As the major hurdles of providing safe and effective tho-
studies and small trials; however, the majority of reports in- racic anesthesia have been overcome, anesthesiologists are
dicate that it is effective with a low risk of complications.76 now able to better refine their anesthetic management with
Pectoralis blocks are less applicable for thoracic surgery than the goal of improving short- and long-term outcomes. The
for breast surgery, however, they have been used as an adju- development of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)
vant to other analgesic modalities.77 Intercostal blocks can protocols for thoracic surgery is another example of the
also be performed before or after thoracic procedures for expanded role of the anesthesiologist in optimizing all
postoperative analgesia, often performed by the surgeon phases of care. In ERAS protocols, emphasis includes not
from within the thorax. These regional block modalities are only intraoperative management, but also preoperative
gaining new interest for the procedures that are performed optimization, postoperative pain management, and an-
tubeless with the spontaneously breathing patient. esthetic implications for postoperative recovery, healing,
and outcomes. ERAS protocols, already well established
in other surgical specialties, aim to reduce postoperative
Broadened Horizons: The Current Scope complications and facilitate faster recovery through mul-
of Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery tidisciplinary implementation of multiple evidence-based
measures.
Thoracic surgical procedures have increased in both number and ERAS guidelines for thoracic surgery typically include
complexity, and the increased quality and diversity of anesthetic measures for the prevention of acute lung injury. As the an-
methods for caring for these patients has contributed to this esthetic management of OLV has improved, the incidence
CHAPTER 1 The Development of Thoracic Anesthesia and Surgery 11
of intraoperative hypoxemia during OLV has dramatically is equivalent to an open thoracotomy.88 Minimally invasive
decreased; however, despite improvements in surgical mor- esophagectomies and mediastinal procedures are routinely
tality, the rate of acute lung injury was not accompanied performed by VATS. Improvements in camera technology
by a similar improvement. The ideal ventilation strategy for and new, specialized instruments have allowed surgeons to
OLV continues to be controversial, but common compo- push the boundaries of traditional VATS procedures and be-
nents of protective lung ventilation strategies, which most gin performing uniportal surgeries. Robotic-assisted tech-
practitioners agree, are low tidal volumes, the use of PEEP, niques for thoracic procedures are also increasingly com-
and recruitment maneuvers to limit the parenchymal dam- mon, but the benefits and utility of these minimally invasive
age and mitigate the proinflammatory effects of mechanical techniques need to be further defined (Fig. 1.6).
ventilation. In the past, applying tidal volumes up to 10 to All of these minimally invasive surgical techniques rely
12 mL/kg during OLV to compensate for the nonventilated heavily on OLV, thus spurring the development of new
lung used to be a common practice. Current understanding techniques for lung separation, especially the proliferation
of the risks of large tidal volumes favor the use of smaller of bronchial blockers. The Arndt blocker (Cook Critical
tidal volumes in the range of 5 to 6 mL/kg.80 Optimizing Care, Bloomington, IN), introduced in 1994, is wire-
fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) is another area of inter- enabled and requires coaxial placement for fiberoptic bron-
est. It was once standard to use 100% FiO2 for all patients choscopic guided placement. In 2004, the Cohen Tip
undergoing thoracic surgery. Since hypoxemia has become Deflecting Endobronchial Blocker (Cook Critical Care)
more preventable during OLV, there has been more inter- was introduced. It possesses a rotating wheel for flexing the
est in decreasing FiO2 levels, with research suggesting that tip of the blocker and can be placed under either coaxial
high FiO2 levels may result in more arrhythmia, respiratory or parallel bronchoscopic guidance. Fuji Systems now also
failure, and pulmonary hypertension.81 manufactures a bronchial blocker, the Uniblocker that is es-
There has been longstanding debate about the merits sentially the bronchial blocker from the Univent tube sold
of volatile versus total intravenous anesthesia in thoracic separately. The EZ blocker (EZ blocker bv, Rotterdam, The
surgery. Although some studies have shown a protective Netherlands) has a novel design featuring a bifurcated dis-
role of volatile anesthetics on the proinflammatory effects tal end that allows for alternating lung isolation and can
of surgery, others have shown no difference between pro- be positioned without the need of fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
pofol and volatile agents in major postoperative complica- The newest developments in the management of bronchial
tions.82–84 There has also been growing interest in the effect blockers include the VivaSight SL (Ambu Inc Columbia,
of anesthetic management on tumor recurrence, which is MO USA) single lumen tube with a distal camera that
thought to be mediated in part by anesthetic modulation of allows for a bronchial blocker to be placed under direct vi-
immune response. For example, limited preclinical studies sion without the need for flexible bronchoscopy.89
have reported that propofol may help antitumor activation The search for the ideal DLT continues to be refined.
of T-helper cells.85 Also, because mu opioid receptors exist At least five different manufacturers now produce DLTs for
on lung cancer cells, the use of opioids may promote lung either the right or the left bronchus in a variety of sizes.
cancer progression.86 Regional anesthesia may be protective The Silbroncho, is a left-sided DLT made of silicone rub-
against cancer recurrence, also through immune modula- ber with a wire-reinforced tip. Proposed advantages of the
tion. At the present time, to conclusively assess the impact Silbroncho include a smaller cuff to prevent left upper lobe
of these anesthetic factors on cancer progression will require occlusion, and the flexible, reinforced tip is intended to pre-
more research and no clear recommendations can be offered. vent bronchial lumen kinking or occlusion from compres-
A major advance in thoracic surgery has been the de- sion.90 The VivaSight DL, similar to the single lumen and
velopment of minimally invasive techniques. The success bronchial blocker version, offers a high-resolution camera at
of laparoscopy for minimally invasive abdominal surgery in the end of the tracheal lumen for confirmation of placement
the 1980s, alongside improvements in endoscopic video sys- by providing a real-time view of the tube at the carinal level
tems and instruments, spurred thoracic surgeons to develop and reduces the need for flexible bronchoscopy. It may be
minimally invasive techniques of their own procedures. useful in cases where the anesthesiologist is away from the
VATS has been widely performed since the early 1990s patient’s head and continued view of the correct position of
and is increasingly replacing traditional open approaches the DLT is helpful (Fig. 1.7).
for more complex procedures. VATS requires optimum Improvement in video technology has resulted in the
lung separation with OLV for adequate surgical exposure proliferation of new video integrated airway devices. Flex-
because retraction of the operative lung by the surgeon is ible video bronchoscopes, which continue to improve in
limited. The benefits of VATS over open techniques include image quality and resolution, are now available as single-use
less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays with faster disposable devices by several companies in an effort to de-
recovery of preoperative function and increased patient sat- crease the cost and the maintenance associated with reusable
isfaction.87 The increase in patient demand for minimally scopes. In many situations, video laryngoscopy has replaced
invasive surgery forces surgeons to become more agile with flexible bronchoscopy for intubation of the difficult airway,
these techniques. Available data confirm that the survival and has been adopted for use for placement of DLTs. Video
rate following VATS lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer laryngoscopy allows the patient’s airway to be secured from
12 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
• Fig. 1.6Milestones in the development of thoracic surgery and anesthesia. CPAP, Continuous positive airway pressure; ETT, Endotracheal tube;
OLV, One-lung ventilation; OR, operating room; VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
CHAPTER 1 The Development of Thoracic Anesthesia and Surgery 13
careful preoperative assessment of the potential for airway precannulation for ECMO is now recommended for those
compression and requires a close collaboration with the patients at highest risk of cardiovascular and respiratory col-
thoracic surgeon. As ECMO has become more accessible, lapse on induction of anesthesia.
Conclusion
The variety and complexity of procedures now routinely anesthetizing frail patients for complex procedures appears
performed by thoracic surgeons would not be possible with- deceptively easy. Thoracic surgery has flourished with the
out the improvements in anesthetic techniques described support of improved anesthesia techniques. The thoracic
here. Anesthesiologists over the past 100 years have refined anesthesiologist of the future will be able to provide the saf-
methods of securing the airway, lung isolation, physiologic est anesthesia that will not only facilitate surgery but also
monitoring, and ventilatory techniques to the point where optimize short-term recovery and long-term outcomes.
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59. Severinghaus JW, Honda Y. Pulse oximetry. Int Anesthesiol Clin. Accessed January 3, 2020.
1987;25(4):205–214. 80. Batchelor TJP, Rasburn NI, Abdelnour-Berchtold E, et al. Guide-
60. Luft K. Method der registrieren gas analyse mit hilfe der absorp- lines for enhanced recovery after lung surgery: recommendations
tion ultraroten Strahlen ohne spectrale Zerlegung. Z Tech Phys. of the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Society and the
1943(24):97. European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS). Eur J Cardiotho-
61. Raventos J. The action of fluothane—a new volatile anaesthetic. racic Surg. 2019;55(1):91–115.
Br J Pharmacol. 1956;11(4):394–410. 81. Misthos P, Katsaragakis S, Theodorou D, Milingos N, Skottis
62. Gregory GA, Kitterman JA, Phibbs RH, et al. Treatment of the I. The degree of oxidative stress is associated with major adverse
idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome with continuous posi- effects after lung resection: a prospective study. Eur J Cardiotho-
tive airway pressure. NEJM. 1971;284(24):1333–1340. rac Surg. 2006;29(4):591–595.
63. Capan LM, Turndorf H, Patel C, et al. Optimization of arte- 82. Beck-Schimmer B, Bonvini JM, Braun J, et al. Which anesthesia
rial oxygenation during one-lung anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 1980; regimen is best to reduce morbidity and mortality in lung sur-
59(11):847–851. gery. Anesthesiology. 2016;125(2):313–321.
64. Cohen E, Eisenkraft JB. Positive end-expiratory pressure dur- 83. Schilling T, Kozian A, Senturk M, et al. Effects of volatile and
ing one-lung ventilation improves oxygenation in patients intravenous anesthesia on the alveolar and systemic inflam-
with low arterial oxygen tensions. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. matory response in thoracic surgical patients. Anesthesiology.
1996;10(5):578–582. 2011;115(1):65–74.
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84. De Conno E, Steurer MP, Wittinger M, et al. Anesthetic-induced 89. Saracoglu A, Saracoglu KT. VivaSight: a new era in the evolution
improvement of the inflammatory response to one-lung ventila- of tracheal tubes. J Clin. Anesth. 2016;33:442–449.
tion. Anesthesiology. 2009;110(6):1316–1326. 90. Lohser J, Brodsky JB. Silbroncho double-lumen tube. J Cardio-
85. Ren XF, Li WZ, Meng FY, Lin CF. Differential effects of pro- thorac Vasc Anesth. 2006;20(1):129–131.
pofol and isoflurane on the activation of T-helper cells in lung 91. Grocott HP, Darrow TR, Whiteheart DL, et al. Lung isolation
cancer patients. Anaesthesia. 2010;65(5):478–482. during port-access cardiac surgery: double-lumen endotracheal
86. Mathew B, Lennon FE, Siegler J, et al. The novel role of the mu tube versus single-lumen endotracheal tube with a bronchial
opioid receptor in lung cancer progression: a laboratory investi- blocker. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2003;17(6):725–727.
gation. Anesth Analg. 2011;112(3):558–567. 92. Tamburrini A, Mineo TC. A glimpse of history: non-intubated
87. Demmy TL, Nwogu C. Is video-assisted thoracic surgery lobec- thoracic surgery. Video-Assisted Thorac Surg. 2017;2(9):52.
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2
Anatomic Correlates of Physiologic
Function
THEODORE C. SMITH, EDMOND COHEN
The respiratory and circulatory systems play a major role in (CC) dimension of the lung. Simultaneously, it displaces
the transportation of oxygen from the atmosphere to mito- the liver, spleen, and stomach both anteriorly and laterally,
chondria and transportation of carbon dioxide from cells to increasing the anterior-posterior (AP) and the side-to-side
the atmosphere. They accomplish these tasks by alternate (S-S) or lateral dimension of the chest through passive move-
steps of convection and diffusion. The respiratory system ment of the rib cage (Fig. 2.2).
provides for the first two steps for oxygen, convection from The rib cage volume is also increased by the action
the atmosphere and diffusion into the blood stream. Ana- of the external (oblique) intercostal muscles. The fibers
tomic features are best understood by appreciation of their of these muscles run diagonally upward and backward
role in the several functions, as outlined in Table 2.1. The from the top of one rib to the bottom of the next above.
structures include an air-conditioning subsystem, a pump, Three types of motion result from the slightly different ar-
and a marvelously fractile convective system, terminating in ticulation of: (1) the first two or three ribs, (2) the middle
well-perfused, close-packed, polyhedral air spaces that inge- ribs, and (3) the lowermost two pairs of ribs: pump handle,
niously incorporate a very large area with the thinnest pos- bucket handle, and caliper motion. The first three or four
sible barrier between blood and gas, and an energy storage ribs lie in planes that slope primarily from back to front.
device to power the usually passive exhalation. When they move upward, they increase the AP and CC
This chapter stresses that form and function are inter- diameters. This movement is like a pump handle. The next
related. Therefore it does not follow a distinctly anatomic six or seven ribs lie in planes that are increasingly tilted to
organization. the side. When they move, the S-S diameter increases by
the bucket handle motion induced by the articulation of
The Muscle-Powered Air Pump these ribs at the sternum, as well as at the vertebral col-
umn. The eleventh and twelfth ribs move primarily out-
The work of breathing is supplied by two groups of muscles ward, aided by pressure of the viscera, as well as upward,
(three sets are inspiratory and three are expiratory) that act like the jaws of a caliper or tongs, primarily increasing the
on skeletal and soft tissue structures of the trunk (chest plus S-S diameter.3
abdomen or, in the classic Greek sense, the thorax). The Although the diaphragm or the external intercostals are
thorax is bounded by the sternum, ribs, spine, intercostal independently able to supply the tidal volume and about
muscles, abdominal wall muscles, clavicle and strap muscles half of the vital capacity, the accessory muscles most of-
superiorly, and the pelvic floor inferiorly. The actions of the ten play an accessory role. The paravertebral muscles can
muscles on the skeletal and soft tissue organs provide active straighten the spinal kyphosis, and the strap muscles of the
inspiration, store energy in the parenchyma and thorax neck lift the thoracic inlet. The strap muscles of the neck,
for passive exhalation, and provide active exhalation when including most importantly the sternocleidomastoid, and
required (see Table 2.1). also those muscles from tongue to hyoid to thyroid to
The inspiratory muscles consist of the diaphragm; the ex- cricoid to sternum, generally referred to as the accessory
ternal intercostals; and the accessory muscles, including the muscles of inspiration, are capable of adding perhaps 10%
strap muscles of the neck and the erector spini (Fig. 2.1).1,2 to the inspiratory capacity on their own. Normally, during
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped structure consisting of inspiration, they have a phasic increase in tone with each
a central tendon with muscle fibers radiating outward to at- breath (i.e., isometric contraction), which serves to stabilize
tach on the xiphoid, on the seventh to twelfth ribs, and on the thoracic inlet. This permits the external intercostals to
the vertebral bodies. Contraction under phrenic nerve con- increase the S-S diameter, each lifting the rib below. When
trol flattens the dome shape, increasing the cephalocaudal the clavicle and first rib can be seen to move up and out, in
17
18 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
TABLE
2.1 Anatomy and Physiology Related to Pulmonary Function Tests
DL, Diffusing capacity of the lungs; PEmax, maximal expiratory pressure; Plmax, maximal inspiratory pressure.
either spontaneous or mechanical ventilation, one can be The expiratory muscles consist of the muscles of the ab-
sure it represents an augmented tidal volume.4 dominal wall, the internal intercostals muscles, and a number
The inspiratory muscles have expiratory functions as of other muscles of the upper limb and thorax. The expiratory
well. First, by stretching the expiratory muscles, they in- muscles are not ordinarily involved in quiet expiration. They
crease their contractility when activated. Second, they markedly increase expiratory flow in the sneeze or cough, and
stretch the lung, and with large tidal volumes the rib cage can decrease lung volume below functional residual capacity,
as well, storing elastic energy for exhalation. Finally, their to residual volume. The muscles involved in active expiration
tone is decreased slowly and progressively during expiration, are, most importantly, those of the abdominal wall (external
providing a braking effect on expiratory flow, minimizing obliques, internal obliques, rectus abdominis, and transversus
expiratory flow problems, and tending to increase average abdominis); the internal intercostals (whose fibers run more
lung volume (Fig. 2.3). vertically than the external obliques); and to a very small
CHAPTER 2 Anatomic Correlates of Physiologic Function 19
Pump
handle
Elevation of
lateral shaft of rib
Bucket
handle
movement
A B
• Fig. 2.2 Motions of the ribs. A. The scalene muscles, inserting on the first two ribs, the sternocleidomas-
toid inserting on the sternum and clavicle, and the other strap muscles of the neck lift the thoracic inlet,
expanding the craniocaudal diameter like a pump handle. External intercostal muscles lift the middle ribs
like a bucket handle, expanding both the side-to-side and anterior-posterior diameters. B. Lower intercos-
tals and the insertion of the diaphragm on the ribs lift the ribs and push them upward and outward, aided
by pressure from the organs just below the diaphragm, notably the liver, stomach, and spleen.
20 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
• Fig. 2.4 The building blocks of lung volumes. The lung gas space is divided into four independent volumes:
residual volume, expiratory reserve volume (ERV), tidal volume (TV), and inspiratory reserve volume. A fifth volume,
the closing volume, is normally a portion of the ERV, but with age, recumbancy, and disease, may enlarge to
include a portion of the TV. A capacity is the sum of two or more volumes.
CHAPTER 2 Anatomic Correlates of Physiologic Function 21
entrance is a pair of oval openings framed by the alar car- Beyond the vestibule, the cavum opens up into two bi-
tilages and the anterior border of the septal cartilage. Hairs laterally symmetric chambers with a floor provided by the
called vibrissae form a coarse net across the openings to filter hard palate, a medial wall by the nasal septum and a lateral
large particles. They can elicit a sneeze when moved lightly. wall by the maxilla with three curved, bony protuberances
Slips of striated muscle (the nasalis muscle under facial, cra- called turbinates or conchae. In the cavum the direction of
nial nerve VII control) dilate the entrance somewhat in hy- the airstream is bent, and the flow further broken up by
perpnea. The nares can be narrowed, as in a sniff, when the the turbinates. The medial-lateral surfaces, about 150 square
decreasing pressure attendant on increased inspiratory air centimeters in area, are rarely more than a few millimeters
flow causes the lateral (cartilaginous) walls to move inward, apart, except along the floor of the cavum, where there may
narrowing the passageway and creating a jet directing the be as much as a centimeter between medial, lateral, and in-
gas flow into the roof of the cavum in greater part. This has ferior borders. Thus the floor is the obvious route of choice
several functions: improving olfaction, clearing secretions for advancing fiberoptic endoscopes and airways. The sub-
into the pharynx, and directing dry cold gas over moist, mucosa is so rich in blood vessels that it resembles erectile
warm surfaces (Fig. 2.5). tissue. These vessels provide the heat and water necessary for
Sniffing
Quiet Breathing
• Fig. 2.5 The nose. In quiet breathing, the inspiratory airstream flows over and around the turbinates (promot-
ing humidification), bends sharply at the pharynx (impacting large suspended particles on mucosa underlaid by
lymphoid tissue of Waldeyer’s ring), and enters the hypopharynx nearly fully humidified at body temperature and
cleansed of large particulates. A sniff directs a jet of inspirate to the attic where olfactory nerves originate. The
surface coiling attendant on inspiratory humidification promotes condensation of a major fraction of the humidity
of alveolar expirate, thus conserving water.
22 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
the air-conditioning function of the nose. The nasolacrimal as a landmark for a nerve supplying a large area of mucosa.
duct and orifices to the paranasal sinuses are found under Hence topical anesthesia with several local anesthetic-
the turbinates. soaked cotton swabs placed in the nose or throat do not
Innervation for olfaction is provided in the attic of the produce satisfactorily topical anesthesia.7
cavum by bipolar neurons in the epithelium, whose axons Secondary functions of the nasal, oral, and pharyngeal
pass through the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulb and anatomy are to give rich quality and variety to speech and
synapse there with axons of the olfactory cranial nerve I. song and to seal off the airway during deglutition. The
Sensation is provided by the first two branches of the tri- details of these structure-function relations may be found
geminal cranial nerve V, which have broadly arborized be- elsewhere. With regret, the author notes that the newborn
fore entering the mucosa. Motor innervation for facial ex- can do both simultaneously, that is, to suck and sing, or at
pression and emotion comes from the facial cranial nerve least breathe and swallow. The neonate has a very curved
VII. Autonomic innervation comes from the cervical (sym- and relatively long epiglottis that extends up to the soft
pathetic) ganglia following the arterial supply (branches palate to provide a sealed transit for gas to and from the
of the external carotid and parasympathetics) from cranial nose through the oropharynx and to deflect liquid later-
nerve V. Through autonomic reflexes, cold, dry inspirate in- ally around the larynx to the esophagus. This ability is
creases both the flow and volume of blood in the mucosa, lost in infancy. Worse still, throughout the rest of life, the
supplying calories and water to gas. loss of those reflexes that make the separation of inspirate
The nasopharynx begins at the posterior choanae with and alimentation less and less certain slowly accelerates
another sharp bend in the airstream. Inertia carries sus- (Fig. 2.6).
pended particles into the posterior mucosal blanket where The functional anatomy up to this point may be dia-
the rich supply of lymphoid tissue (Waldeyer’s ring) pro- grammed by a capital letter F, in which are embedded four
motes defense. The eustachian tubes draining the middle valves. The lateral alar cartilages move inward with increas-
ear open into the lateral wall. The nasopharynx is bound- ing air flow through the nostrils to accelerate the airstream
ed superiorly by the base of the skull and posteriorly by velocity and direct it upward in the nasal attic (V1). This
the vertebral column. When the soft palate and tongue is partially prevented by the facial muscles, which stiffen
are relaxed, the nasopharynx is a widely patent part of the and flare the external nares. The soft palate and base of
airway with a cross-sectional area 2 to 3 times as large as the tongue, which move together to open the nasophar-
the trachea. ynx to breathing, move apart to promote oropharyngeal
The resistance to air flow provided by the nose is nearly
half of the resting resistance of the total airway. Major com-
ponents are the turbulent flow pattern and narrow spaces
created by the conchae. Resistance provided by the vestibule
is variable, as noted earlier, however, with decreased air flow
as the result of valving collapse of the lateral nasal cartilages
during a sniff. Alar flaring opposes this collapse, decreas-
ing resistance, as well as conveying emotion. In contrast,
the air flow resistance from the choanae through the naso-
pharynx is either negligible (nose breathing) or infinite (i.e., V
closed). This valve-like function is caused by the effect of Alae
the soft palate: when elevated it seals the nasopharynx, and
V Palate V Lips
gas transverses the oral cavity and pharynx with very little
resistance to flow.
The oropharynx is simply the vertical continuation of the
nasopharynx when the soft palate is relaxed in quiet breath-
ing. With the switch to oral breathing and anterior move- Larynx
V
ment of the base of the tongue, it becomes the segment of
the airway with the lowest resistance and the largest cross-
sectional area. It acts as a gentle curve directing gas flow into
the larynx.
The hypopharynx consists of two funnel-shaped cavi- • Fig. 2.6 The airway valves. At four separate sites the airway can
ties, the pyriform sinuses, on either side of the larynx. The be narrowed or closed. At the nose, relaxation of the dilator naris and
entrance to the esophagus is normally closed by the crico- aerodynamic force associated with rapid inspiratory flow narrow the
pharyngeal muscle. The superior laryngeal nerves are just aperture by inward movement of the alar cartilages. At the lips, the or-
bicularis oris can close the mouth even with the mandible partly open.
submucosal in the anterolateral wall of the sinuses and may
The soft palate can be elevated to seal off the nasopharynx (as when
be blocked by two local anesthetic-soaked pledgets held at blowing up a closed balloon) or pulled down to seal off the oral cavity
this spot. This is in contrast to the rest of the sensory inner- during nose breathing. The larynx is a complex valve with three sepa-
vation: no one other anatomically identifiable spot serves rate mechanisms.
CHAPTER 2 Anatomic Correlates of Physiologic Function 23
breathing (V2). The lips and teeth govern the entrance to nerves and vessels. Its movement is both intrinsic (motion
the mouth (V3). The larynx is the fourth valve, which is in respect to other parts of the larynx) and extrinsic (motion
described in the next section. These valves are the first line as a whole in relation to adjacent structures).
of pulmonary defenses. The hyoid bone is extrinsic to the usual description of
The volume of this section of the airway is about the larynx. However, it is as securely attached to the upper
1 mL/kg during mouth breathing, and 1.5 mL/kg during border of the thyroid cartilage as the cricoid is attached to
nasal breathing. These numbers represent the reduction in the lower border by a tough membranous ligament. There
dead space achieved by tracheostomy. The upper airway is an aperture in each side, through which pass the superior
offers about one-half of the airway resistance at rest and laryngeal nerves and vessels. This provides a second site for
one-third or less with hyperpnea and mouth breathing. neural blockade, a centimeter below and a centimeter ante-
Work of breathing overcoming this resistance normally rior to the (posterior) greater comer of the hyoid, at a depth
represents about 1% of the basal metabolic oxygen de- just subcutaneous. A tough ligament is perceived by an ad-
mand. Bypassing the upper airway via tracheostomy or vancing needle at greater depths. Several muscles, extrinsic
translaryngeal airways does not usually, by itself, provide to the larynx, originate or insert on the hyoid, and are easily
an appreciable therapeutic effect. It does shift the burden identified by the “hyo” in their name (e.g., omohyoid, hyo-
of warming and humidifying the inspired gas and con- thyroid, etc). They are part of the accessory muscles of res-
serving calories and water on exhalation to another less piration and partake in the swallowing mechanism. There
elegantly designed site. is also a small but constant ligament from the center of the
In summary, the upper airway is an active conduit with hyoid to the center of the epiglottis. In some reconstruc-
air-conditioning functions (heat, humidification, and filtra- tions it would seem to prevent the epiglottis from backward
tion), defensive functions (coughing, sneezing, and swal- and downward rotation to cover the glottis, but it is either
lowing), and certain advanced functions of civilization (in- just long enough or just low enough to permit the epiglottis
cluding oration, singing, and emotional expressions such to fold over the larynx in one of the three mechanisms of
as crying and laughing). It offers minor compensation for laryngeal closure (Fig. 2.7).8
some disease processes. Paradoxically, it can increase airway The epiglottis is a spoon-shaped cartilage of compound
resistance, thereby controlling lung volume and shifting the curvature, that is, it is concave inward in horizontal section
equal pressure point oral (pursed lip breathing). In the prac- and concave backward vertically. It is one of the three un-
tice of thoracic anesthesia, understanding these anatomic paired cartilages; the thyroid and cricoid are the other two.
correlates aids in the diagnosis and evaluation of dyspnea, in Fink has pointed out that the action of extrinsic muscles on
fiberoptic bronchoscopy for both diagnostic indications and this compound curvature causes a folding motion, which
as an aid in intubation, and in the management of emerging brings the free top of the epiglottis down over the vestibule
and postoperative patients. of the larynx like a hinged lid on a German beer stein.9 This
action is further promoted by the elevation of the larynx
The Larynx in the neck during swallowing, a motion that results from
the collective effort of the strap muscles above the larynx
Although it may be more common to view the rima glot- (the genio-, glosso-, hyo-, stylo-, omothyroid, and other
tidis as the dividing section between upper and lower air- thyroid muscles). Because these motions are programmed
way, this chapter will consider the larynx as a whole as into the motor cortex as part of the swallowing action, they
separating the upper and lower airway and will include the are a regular and reliable valving mechanism. With maxi-
hyoid as a laryngeal structure. The larynx is most simply mum voluntary effort, they ball up tissue at the root of
a valve, which is opened during respiration, closed during the epiglottis. This ball valve is the strongest of the three
deglutition, and intermediate during phonation. It plays closing mechanisms. The inferior surface of the epiglottis is
a minor but crucial role when increased intraabdominal inverted by the vagus cranial nerve X, which also supplies
pressure is required (e.g., defecating, lifting). Because this muscles closing the glottis intrinsically by rotation of the
structure is required to move, to open, and to close, it aryteroids adducting the vocal cords (the least strong valve
has the requisite structure and power. Most notably, it mechanism). The superior surface on the other hand is by
has three manners of closure, each more secure: the vocal innervated branches of the glossopharyngeal cranial nerve
cords close the larynx like a shutter, the epiglottis folds IX. Macintosh conjectured that stimulation of the inferior
over the glottis, and the structures around the base of the surface (X nerve) by a straight blade laryngoscope would
epiglottis ball up and push the vestibular folds (false vocal be more likely to cause laryngospasm via motor fibers in
cords) down onto the true vocal cords. This is rather like the vagus than stimulation of the hypopharyngeal mucosa
the box lock, the grille, and the massive vault door in a innervated by the IX nerve. Anesthesia would more likely
safe deposit box facility. block a reflex that requires neuronal connection between
The larynx consists of one bone, three unpaired and three two different cranial nuclei than a simple reflex involving
paired cartilages, nine intrinsic muscles, a variety of extrin- one nucleus. This reasoning led to the design of the MacIn-
sic muscles whose number depends on just how far afield tosh blade, but there are no published data confirming the
one goes, ligaments that interconnect these, and appropriate conjecture.
24 S EC T I O N 1 Preoperative Assessment
Laryngeal Cartilages
The 7 laryngeal cartilages Laryngeal cartilages anatomy
Hyoid bone Hyoid bone
Lesser cornu Triticeal cartilage
Greater cornu
Triticeal cartilage Body
Corniculate cartilage Epiglottis
Epiglottis
Superior cornu
Superior thyroid Arytenoid cartilage
tubercle Thyroepiglottic
Cricoarytenoid ligament
Corniculate cartilage
cartilage Thyroid cartilage
Arytenoid cartilage
Thyroid cartilage Cricoid cartilage
Cricothyroid joint
Oblique line Superior thyroid notch
Inferior cornu Inferior thyroid
Articular facet tubercle
for arytenoid
Articular facet
A for thyroid Cricoid cartilage
Tongue
Epiglottis
Hyoid bone
Thyroid
memrane Corniculate
cartilage
Thyroid
cartilage Arytenoid
Cricothyroid cartilage
ligament
Cricoid
cartilage
Cricotracheal
ligament
Tracheal
C-shaped cartilages
B
• Fig. 2.7The anterior and the lateral views of the larynx. (From Hicks GH. Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and
Physiology. Philadelphia: WB Sanders; 2000.)
The thyroid cartilage, the second of the unpaired cartilages, the visor of a medieval knight’s headgear rotates on the helmet.
is a roughly hemicylindrical structure forming the major part This changes the tension on the cords and hence vocal pitch.10
of the anterior and lateral walls of the larynx. Its size and the The cricoid is the last unpaired cartilage, and the only
prominent notch at the top front provide an easily observ- completely circular cartilage in the airway. When its anterior
able or palpable landmark. The base of the epiglottis is tightly arc (just below the thyroid) is identified and pressed pos-
bound to its intern surface in the midline by a tough ligament teriorly, the broad posterior arc compresses and seals the
just above the origin of the vocal cords from the midline of the esophagus against the lower cervical vertebral bodies. Sell-
thyroid cartilage. The thyroid is articulated to the cricoid by a ick demonstrated competency to over 100 mm Hg pressure
paired set of true joints that permit rotation, rather like how with this maneuver.
CHAPTER 2 Anatomic Correlates of Physiologic Function 25
* * * * *
In the vast majority of importations, the broker plays an important
part. The broker may be an individual, a partnership, corporation, or
association. In any case, those acting as brokers must be licensed by
the Customs Bureau, meet certain standards, and submit to Federal
regulation of their operations.
Applicants for individual broker’s licenses must undergo an
examination at the headquarters port in the Customs district in which
the broker intends to operate. The purpose of this examination is to
determine the applicants knowledge of Customs laws and procedure
and his fitness to render a service to importers and exporters. This
knowledge must necessarily be quite broad in scope, and a grade of
75 per cent is required for passing.
However, those applying for a broker’s license as a corporation,
partnership, or association do not take an examination. Their
applications are forwarded by the Collector to the Supervising
Customs Agent, who conducts an investigation and then makes a
report and recommendation. The agents verify the correctness of the
statements made in the applications and the qualifications of the
person or persons who will actually handle the customs business. The
government requires that each broker keep current records reflecting
his financial transactions as a broker, and these records must be
available for government inspection at any time.
The Customs Service has no part in fixing the fees charged by
customs brokers for their services. However, if a complaint is made
against an individual broker or a brokerage house, then the complaint
is investigated by Customs Service agents and if the fees charged by
the broker are found to be excessive or “unconscionable,” then action
is taken by the Service to correct the situation. In cases where
investigation discloses irregularities, the Secretary of the Treasury has
the authority to suspend or revoke the license of a broker. Such action
is taken, however, only after a quasi-judicial hearing in which the
accused broker has the right of cross-examining witnesses. If the
decision goes against him, then the broker may, if he wishes, appeal
his case to a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The broker plays a prominent role as the middle man in the import-
export business, but this does not mean that an importer must
necessarily seek the services of a broker in bringing merchandise into
the country. Under the law, any citizen may act as his own agent in
clearing his own imports through Customs and no license is required.
* * * * *
One of the ancient devices to aid the importer is known as the
“drawback” privilege. “Drawback” is a word which is found in customs
language through the centuries, and it is another word for “refund.”
In brief, the drawback works in this fashion: an importer brings
merchandise into the United States to be used in the manufacture of
certain articles. At the time of importation, he pays the normal duty.
After the articles are manufactured, they are exported to another
country. It is then that the manufacturer is entitled to a refund on that
part of the imports which he shipped back out of the country.
The drawback plays an important part in the manufacturing
operations of all nations. It enables manufacturers to meet competition
in the export market. For example, an automobile manufacturer in the
United States imports a large amount of steel to be used in the
manufacturing of his automobiles. Ten per cent of this steel is used in
cars which are shipped overseas. Thus the manufacturer is entitled to
a drawback or refund of 10 per cent of the duties he paid on the
imported steel.
Congress has liberalized the drawback provisions so that a
manufacturer does not necessarily have to use the imported materials
in his exports in order to qualify for a refund of duties. An automobile
manufacturer may export automobiles made entirely of domestic steel.
But if the steel he used in the exports is of “the same kind and quality”
as the imported steel, then he is allowed to obtain a refund on that
quantity of steel used in the exported automobiles.
Virtually every manufacturer who is in the export business takes
advantage of this drawback material, and its value to the
manufacturing industry in the United States is realized when it is noted
that the refunds paid in recent years have been running about $9
million annually.
Oddly enough, there are some American manufacturers who do
not even know that they have the privilege of a duty refund. They have
been importing materials for years, paying duties, and then exporting
the finished products without making any claim for a refund of duties
on the materials shipped back overseas. One midwestern
manufacturer in recent years discovered that he had paid the
government in excess of $1,500,000 in duties—and he was entitled to
a refund of the entire amount.
This situation developed as a result of the Korean War. Because of
the tremendous devastation in Korea, the U.S. government entered
into a program of rebuilding the Korean economy. The midwestern
manufacturer obtained orders from the government to supply a
quantity of heavy machinery and equipment, the contract running into
many millions of dollars.
In that period during and after the Korean War, there was a
shortage of domestic steel. For that reason the manufacturer imported
virtually all the steel used in the machinery manufactured for the
Korean government. When he discovered that he was due a refund of
duties, he obtained all his records over the past years, and submitted
them to the government. These records were verified and the
manufacturer was paid more than $1,500,000.
* * * * *
The maze of tariff laws which has grown up over the years has
developed some peculiar situations, and one of the oddest of these
involves the Virgin Islands, the insular possession which has attracted
many manufacturers in recent years.
One reason that the Virgin Islands is proving attractive to new
industries is that under the present laws, manufacturers operating in
the Virgin Islands pay an import duty of only 6 per cent on
merchandise brought into the Islands for use in manufacturing. Their
finished products are permitted into the mainland free of any duty—
provided the foreign materials used are less than 50 per cent of the
total value.
This quirk in the law has created extreme problems for some
American industries, such as the watch industry. For example, a
manufacturer in the Virgin Islands will import various watch parts from
France or Japan and pay only a 6 per cent duty on these imports. The
parts will be assembled into a finished watch, and if the watch meets
the requirements fixed by law, then it enters the United States free. In
other words, the manufacturer in the Virgin Islands pays a 6 per cent
duty on watch parts on which the American manufacturer is required to
pay a 50 per cent duty. And this variance extends to other fields of
manufacturing.
There has been, in recent years, a growing opposition to the duty
differential which is permitted manufacturers in the Virgin Islands.
Discussing this situation before Congress in September, 1960,
Representative Eugene J. McCarthy of Minnesota voiced the views of
many when he said: “In recent months there has been a growing
tendency for companies to establish themselves in U.S. insular
possessions on a basis that results in their escaping the proper
payment of duty on products they wish to import into the United States.
Section 301 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, was intended to
promote the development of employment opportunities in our insular
possessions.... (Instead, it) has become an avenue for the avoidance
of very substantial amounts of duty....”
The McCarthy argument is disputed by the Virgin Island
manufacturing interests, but nevertheless the situation underscores the
complexity of the laws by which the Customs Bureau is bound.
* * * * *
In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, free-trade zones were
common throughout the world. There were no customs requirements,
and merchandise moved through these ports with no restrictions.
Gradually the free-trade ports disappeared as the various countries
imposed tariffs on imports and exports for revenue and for protection
purposes.
The nearest thing to the old free-trade port that exists in the United
States today is the foreign-trade zone. It is a sort of No Man’s Land
which has been described as “a neutral stockaded area where a
shipper may put down his load, catch his breath, and decide what to
do next.”
There are four of these zones in the United States, located at New
York, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle. They are fenced and
guarded areas into which importers may bring merchandise without
payment of duties—excepting prohibited merchandise such as
narcotics, subversive or immoral literature, or lottery matter. The
merchandise may remain in the zone indefinitely, and once it is there it
may be manipulated, processed or manufactured without being subject
to any Federal or state controls.
The foreign-trade zones are used for many operations such as
assembling machinery, dyeing and bleaching materials, bottling,
weaving, printing, extracting oils and other components from raw
materials, and for cleaning, grading, sorting, and repackaging
materials for a specific market.
It is only when the finished product is removed from the zone that it
becomes subject to commodity quotas, commodity standards, labelling
and marketing requirements, licenses, fees, controls and taxes that
normally apply to all imports. However, if it is to his advantage, the
importer may ask for an earlier determination of the duties and taxes
due—before the processing changes the classification of the goods
involved.
The foreign-trade zones are intriguing areas because although
they are physically within the United States, for all practical commercial
purposes they remain outside the United States—reminders of an
earlier day when trade through many ports of the world was unfettered.
22
THE RESTLESS AMERICAN
Inspector Leonard Simon, a tall man with faint crinkles about his
eyes, stood at his post in the Customs baggage examination area
late one August afternoon at New York’s Idlewild International
Airport. He was waiting for the rush of travellers who then were
disembarking from a huge Pan American Boeing 707 jet which had
just completed its swift flight from Paris.
Simon had arrived on the job early that morning and this was
one of the few times he had been able to relax. Tourists returning
from Europe had been pouring through the airport in droves. And
before the day was ended, he and his fellow inspectors would have
examined the documents and the luggage of passengers disgorged
from more than 100 airliners—a restless army arriving from all parts
of the world.
At the peak of the traffic, as many as 1,000 persons moved
through the inspection lanes each hour. Fifteen years earlier—in the
postwar years—only a handful of officers was needed to handle the
international air traffic. The jet age had changed all this. A force of
248 men was now required, and each year travel by air was
increasing.
They came in waves from the planes, laden with boxes, bundles,
bags and cases—impatient to clear this last official hurdle which
stood between them and their destination. There was a certain air of
resentment about some of them when they entered the inspection
lanes, as though they were being forced to undergo an unpleasant
inoculation which was entirely unnecessary. Some showed their
nervousness with self-conscious titters. Some were openly hostile to
the inspectors. And some viewed the routine with bored resignation.
Nevertheless, most of the travellers accepted the examinations
with good grace, answering with candor the routine questions about
their purchases abroad, and paying any duties assessed without
complaint when the purchases exceeded the duty-free exemption of
$100.
A few of the travellers had voiced complaints, as did the fat,
perspiring man who demanded in a loud voice, “Why is it that our
government is the only one which treats a citizen as if he might be a
criminal?” He looked about belligerently to see if anyone would take
exception to the statement, but the inspectors acted as though they
had not heard the remark. None of them was in the mood for an
unnecessary argument.
With minor variations, the scene had been replayed over and
over throughout the day. Now, as the crowd from the 707 jet moved
toward the inspection lanes, Simon ground out his cigarette in an
ash tray and nudged a fellow inspector. He said, “Here comes
trouble.”
“Which one?” the man asked.
“The Duchess,” Simon said, the crinkles deepening about his
eyes. “The tall woman with her nose in the air. I’ll bet she comes to
my station.”
Sure enough, The Duchess bustled into Simon’s lane and fixed
him with a beady stare. “Young man,” she said with a heavy British
accent, “can you tell me why I must go through with this nonsense of
having my luggage examined?”
“I’m sorry,” Simon said, “but it’s a routine precaution we must
take with all travellers unless they have the immunity of a diplomatic
passport. I’m just doing my duty.”
The woman glared. “I still think it’s a lot of nonsense. It’s most
inconvenient. What do you think I’m carrying that is illegal?”
Simon said seriously, “We were informed that you were
smuggling twenty small Russians into the country in your suitcases.
I’ve got to see if it’s true.”
It was a corny gag but, unexpectedly, The Duchess laughed. “All
right, young man,” she said. “Get on with your job and I’ll not trouble
you again.”
The visitor from Britain had hardly left Simon’s station when he
looked up and saw a well-known film star entering his lane. He knew
her immediately from her pictures in the newspapers and from the
film he had seen a few days earlier at a neighborhood theater. The
papers had said she would be returning to Hollywood from Europe,
where she had been working for several months on a new picture.
There had been stories of her appearances in Paris, Rome,
Madrid and Monaco, and the usual gossip about the men with whom
she had been seen. Now here she was in person—dressed in a
fetching suit which had a made-in-Paris look to it. She carried a
handsome Italian-made handbag. On her wrist was a watch which
Simon saw at a glance was worth several hundred dollars, because
it was encrusted with small diamonds.
The actress handed Simon her declaration. It was signed with a
carefree flourish—but there were no purchases listed, only personal
belongings. Simon felt like groaning when he saw the declaration. It
simply didn’t make sense for a well-known actress to be in Europe
for six months without making a single purchase of clothing or
jewelry.
Simon said, “You are certain you understand the regulations? A
good many people don’t know that the declaration must include any
wearing apparel purchased abroad, even though it has been worn.”
Simon was trying, tactfully, to suggest that if she had any undeclared
purchases, she still could “remember” them and amend the
declaration without penalty. He didn’t want to make trouble for her
because, as he explained later, “I really liked her pictures.” And there
was the chance that she didn’t understand the regulations.
The actress snapped, “Of course, I understand. I took these
things with me when I left the country.”
It was the tone of voice that did it. Simon shrugged and asked
her to open her suitcases. The top layers of clothing were dresses
with California designers’ labels attached, and Simon saw they were
genuine California models.
Beneath these dresses there were other gowns with no labels on
them. But Simon didn’t have to rely on a label to know that these
were creations from the houses of Dior and Balenciaga. He
recognized their Paris origin from the distinctive stitching and from
other small peculiarities of design which were more reliable
identifications than labels. A label might be changed or removed—
but the work of the French seamstresses could not be altered.
Simon had only to glance through the suitcases to see that the
matter had gone beyond his authority. He signalled for one of his
superiors. The actress was asked to step into a private room for
questioning and for a more thorough examination of her luggage.
She was found to be carrying undeclared clothing and jewelry worth
$10,800. She was not subjected to criminal prosecution, but she paid
into the Treasury the value of the purchases in addition to the stiff
penalty for the smuggling attempt. She left New York for Hollywood a
much wiser young woman, although she would never feel moved to
voice any praise for the Customs Bureau and its employees.
The case of the Hollywood actress is only one minor example of
why the Bureau requires that travellers’ luggage be examined upon
arrival in the United States. Each year roughly 150 million persons
and 43 million vehicles cross and recross the borders. Among those
millions are cheats, smugglers and conspirators seeking to evade
the payment of duties on imports or trying to bring contraband into
the country.
Baggage examinations have been made since the Republic was
in its infancy. The system has been continued simply because no
one yet has devised a better way to protect the Treasury from those
who seek to avoid the payment of legitimate duties. The system
remains much the same as it was in the days of George Washington
—and without doubt just as annoying to travellers.
There is an old story that Napoleon once assembled his
marshals, just before launching a long-planned campaign, to deliver
a stirring address on the brilliance of his strategy, the weaknesses of
the enemies, and the indomitable spirit of the Napoleonic legions.
“Nothing,” thundered the little emperor, “can stop our march!”
Then a voice piped up from the rear: “Sire, you forget the French
Customs!”
The U.S. Customs Service in its more than 170 years of
operation has never achieved a position of such bureaucratic
eminence as the anonymous storyteller attributed to the French
Customs—even though some tired and disgruntled travellers
returning from abroad might feel inclined to dispute this point. But
there is no doubt that among governmental agencies, the Customs
Service has—in Madison Avenue terms—projected a poor image of
itself and the importance of the role it plays in protecting the
Treasury.
Smuggling and attempts at fraud continue to be big-money
problems. During the fiscal year 1960, Customs agents and
inspectors made 13,531 seizures of merchandise, narcotics and
other imports worth $8,238,649. From these seizures, the Treasury
received a total of $1,402,084.24 in fines and penalties—of which
$896,159.42 was collected by Customs agents.
While the value of the seizures reported by Customs in one year
may seem high, Customs officers are certain that they intercept only
a part of the contraband that is brought into the United States. They
are equally certain that diligent inspection and enforcement work
slow down the operations of the underworld operators, the one-shot
smugglers, and the chiselers who—if this deterrent did not exist—
would flood the country with illegal imports.
Unfortunately, there is no way in looking at passengers arriving
by plane or by ship to separate the honest from the dishonest. The
little gray-haired lady with a shawl about her shoulders, wearing steel
spectacles and a shy, grandmotherly smile, may have two pounds of
heroin concealed beneath her petticoat. And the square-jawed, blue-
eyed, All-American business executive with the firm handclasp may
be trying to bring into the country a diamond ring and several
watches.
Frequently men of wealth try to smuggle purchases past the
inspectors merely to see if they can get away with it. Such a case
involved a Pittsburgh industrialist who arrived in New York from a trip
to Europe. He was a man whose name was well-known in the
business world and who was financially able to pay tariff duties on
purchases costing tens of thousands of dollars. But when an
inspector looked at his new hand-made alligator bags—purchased in
Italy—he was reasonably certain the luggage was grossly
undervalued on the businessman’s declaration. The inspector called
for an appraiser to check his judgment. The appraiser asked the
businessman to open one of the bags, and the traveller said
belligerently, “Why do you want to open it?” The appraiser replied,
“Because I want to see inside. Any objection?” And he proceeded
with an examination of the luggage.
Upon opening one of the bags, he found two expensive Patek
Philippe watches—rated among the world’s best. Not only did the
traveller’s declaration not list any watches, but more than one watch
of this particular brand could not legally be imported without a
special permit from the agency which handled them in the United
States. Another handbag contained several other expensive
watches.
When the watches were found, the businessman looked at the
appraiser and the inspector and grinned. He said, “Well, now that
you’ve caught me, how much is it going to cost? Let me pay you and
get on my way.”
The appraiser said, “I’m sorry but it isn’t that simple. This could
be a criminal case rather than just a matter of just paying for a
mistake.”
By this time the businessman had wiped the smile from his face.
He was beginning to sweat. He lowered his voice and said, “Let me
speak to you privately.”
The inspector and appraiser took the traveller into a private
office, where he apologized abjectly. He explained that he was trying
to be a “wise guy.” He said he thought it would be amusing to see if
he could bluff his way past Customs and he hadn’t realized the
serious implications involved.
“He was a pretty shaken man when he left that office,” the
appraiser recalled. “No criminal case was made against him but he
did pay a stiff penalty.”
For the transgressions of the few, the great majority must
undergo the inconveniences of delay in having their baggage
inspected.
There is no doubt that the inspectors who arrive on the job out of
sorts, grumpy and even rude make more enemies for the Customs
Bureau in dealing with the public than a dozen Customs men could
have made working in any other capacity.
Such an experience brought a protest from a Canadian, who
wrote The New York Times in November, 1958, complaining of rude
treatment by a churlish airport inspector. The inspector curtly
demanded the Canadian’s bags be opened for inspection. Then
without as much as a peek inside them, he ordered the bags to be
closed in what the visitor termed “an exercise in official nuisance and
an assertion of bureaucratic authority.” He added, “The trip began
with irritation from this first contact with a representative of the
United States....”
Baggage inspection—while it is only a small part of the overall
Bureau operation—nevertheless is one of the most sensitive parts of
the Bureau’s work, and officials are painfully aware of this fact. They
are trying to eliminate the kind of patently absurd situation which
inspired a New Yorker cartoonist to picture a stern, arms-folded
Customs inspector at the U.S.-Mexico border facing a very pregnant
young lady and saying, “That’s the rule, lady—if you got it in Mexico,
you pay duty on it.”
The keeper of the law can hardly hope to win popularity
contests. But most of the complaints against Customs spring from
the average American traveller’s resentment of the baggage
inspection. People simply don’t like to have a stranger poking about
among personal belongings.
The Bureau has been seeking ways to speed up the
examinations and to keep the public at least tranquil, if not happy,
over the operation. Conveyor belts have been installed at
examination counters at airports in New York, Miami, San Juan and
San Francisco, and are planned at other major points of international
travel. They have helped to cut down delays. Campaigns are
conducted among employees to promote greater courtesy in dealing
with the travelling public.
Inspector Simon, discussing this situation, said: “We rarely have
difficulty with seasoned travellers who know all the rules. It’s the
people who don’t travel too often, the person who makes one trip in
ten years’ time, and the general tourist who are always apprehensive
about Customs. One of the most difficult things is to settle them
down and make them feel at ease so that you can get the answers to
your questions without upsetting them too much. Once they feel that
you understand their situation and you start to discuss with them
what they have purchased and what they might have ordered to be
shipped later and how they must go about clearing these articles,
then they relax a bit and you find that it is easier to handle them.”
To train new Customs employees in their duties and
responsibilities, the Customs Bureau operates a school for
inspectors and examiners in an old building at 54 Stone Street in
lower Manhattan. Here the recruits are not only instructed in the
proper way to meet the public and to inspect luggage, but also how
to look for the tricks of the smuggler, how to obtain a sample from a
shipment of wool for a laboratory analysis, the proper procedures for
verifying shipments of merchandise to determine their dutiable value,
and what items are on the forbidden list, such as narcotics and
certain plants and vegetables. They also must familiarize themselves
with an impost book on whose pages are listed more than 60,000
articles which are dutiable. And in hours of study there is instruction
in other phases of the Bureau’s widespread operations.
While the schooling is helpful for any future inspectors, only
experience will give them the finesse and the tact necessary to avoid
constant irritations in dealing with the thousands of people who pass
through the ports each year from overseas, or from Canada and
Mexico.
Customs inspectors have learned from long experience that
elderly women returning from abroad for the first time and women
who are travelling alone are apt to be the most emotional when
approaching the Customs inspection lane. They require special
attention by inspectors in filling out the proper forms and in getting
their baggage prepared for inspection. Many of them regard
Customs as a frightening barrier to entry into the United States—and
not as an agency to help them comply with the laws which were
written by Congress.
Actually, a close look at the record reveals that the Customs
Bureau is one of the more efficient units in the Federal government.
Even though the work load for examiners, agents, appraisers and
other employees has increased more than 200 per cent over the
past ten years, the Bureau does the job with fewer employees. In
1951 the Bureau had a total of 8,561 employees—8 more than were
employed in 1962. The Bureau’s operating budget had increased
from $40,500,000 to $63,400,000 over that period, but most of the
increase went into pay raises voted by Congress, employee
retirement funds, increased health benefits, and employee insurance
contributions.
In 1960, the Bureau won a commendation from the watchdog
Bureau of the Budget for an impressive showing in management
improvements effected by outgoing Commissioner Ralph Kelly.
Since that remote day in 1789 when William Seton paid the first
$774.41 in duties into the U.S. Treasury, the responsibility for
policing the imports has grown steadily.
The nerve center for the sprawling operation is located in the
office of Commissioner Philip Nichols, Jr., in Washington, D. C.,
whose top lieutenant is a long-time government career man,
Assistant Commissioner David B. Strubinger.
Management control is maintained through seven main divisions:
the Division of Engineering and Weighing, the Division of
Laboratories, the Division of Tariff and Marine Administration, the
Division of Personnel, the Supervisor of Appraisers, the Division of
Investigations and Patrols, and the Division of Fiscal Administration.
In the field there are forty-five collectors of customs in thirty-two
Customs districts, thirty-two appraisers, nine chief chemists, seven
comptrollers, thirteen supervising Customs agents, and nine chief
laboratory chemists, in addition to the inspectors, enforcement
agents, examiners, border patrolmen, technicians, and clerical
workers.
In the fiscal year 1960, the imports reached $13 billion, and in
1962 they climbed to more than $15 billion—pouring through 350
ports of entry and Customs stations along the borders. The collection
of duties soared in 1962 to more than $1.5 billion. International air
travel at New York’s Idlewild Airport increased more than 10 per cent
over the preceding year, and air cargo shipments were up 20 per
cent. Similar reports came from other points of international travel.
Perhaps one of the more notable achievements of the Service is
the fact that with improved management controls, better auditing
procedures, and swift action against crooked employees, the Bureau
has not had a major household scandal in more than a quarter of a
century.
For years, the Bureau has had one of the lowest personnel
turnover rates of any of the government agencies. It is now in a
period of rapid change. The reason is that many of the long-time
employees, including those in top management positions, are
reaching retirement age. They are the ones who came into the
Service in the early 1920s and chose to remain.
Government employees may retire any time from age sixty-two
on to the mandatory retirement age of seventy. Most of those retiring
are stepping out at age sixty-five, and since 1960 the Bureau has
been forced to seek approximately 400 new employees each year—
with a heavy turnover in the upper management echelon.
The management vacancies are being filled by promotions within
the Service. The upward move has left openings in the lower
positions for young men and women interested in a government
career and, more particularly, in the specialized work offered by
Customs. This trend in employment will continue through 1965.
Why did they stay with the Customs Bureau in such numbers?
One of the old-timers put it this way: “We came into the Customs
Service as young people and it became a part of our life. We felt we
had more than an ordinary job. We felt we were taking part in
something important to our country—and for this reason we felt
important. There never was time to get bored because there never
was a day when you didn’t run up against a new and interesting
problem. I don’t mean a gimmick problem—but a problem that might
mean millions of dollars. Of course, no job can be perfect—but I
don’t know where I could have found another that would have kept
me interested this long....”
There is every reason to believe that the Customs Service—the
gray old frontier sheriff among the Federal agencies—is improving
with age.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Don Whitehead was born in Inman, Virginia, and studied at
the University of Kentucky. He has spent most of his working
life in newspaper work, and for twenty-one years was with the
Associated Press, twice winning Pulitzer prizes. For a time he
was chief of the Washington, D.C., bureau of the New York
Herald Tribune. In 1956 he wrote the widely acclaimed The
F.B.I. Story, and in 1960 he wrote Journey into Crime. He now
lives with his wife in Concord, Tennessee, where he writes a
column for the Knoxville News-Sentinel and does freelance
writing.
Transcriber’s Notes
Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made
consistent when a predominant preference was found in the
original book; otherwise they were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected; unbalanced
quotation marks were remedied when the change was
obvious, and otherwise left unbalanced.