Tubeless Surgery With Impaired Pulmonary Function

Some patients with impaired lung function require minimally invasive surgical treatment, including those with lung cancer, benign lung tumors, pneumothorax, or lung volume reduction surgery. Patients with borderline lung function often cannot be extubated immediately postoperatively under conventional treatment models. These patients typically need to be transferred to the surgical ICU for close monitoring. However, positive-pressure mechanical ventilation with an endotracheal tube carries risks of further airway injury and persistent air leakage from the lung surface, leading to a high incidence of postoperative respiratory failure. Non-intubated minimally invasive surgery (tubeless), which preserves spontaneous breathing without endotracheal intubation, avoids the physical stimulation of intubation and the airway damage caused by mechanical ventilation. This approach may reduce the incidence of postoperative airway injury and respiratory failure, potentially expanding the indications for minimally invasive lung surgery, lowering postoperative complication and mortality rates. The aim is to further clarify the surgical indications for non-intubated single-port minimally invasive surgery in patients with impaired lung function, the decision-making criteria for postoperative ICU transfer, and the safety and feasibility of this comprehensive management approach.