Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is traditionally performed under general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation with a double lumen tube[1], [2]. In recent years, a growing trend towards these procedures being performed under loco regional anesthesia, particularly under epidural block with or without sedation in patients in spontaneous ventilation has appeared. It can be used to perform procedures that include pneumothorax management, wedge resection, lobectomy and surgical reduction of lung volume[1], [3]. The most attractive reason is to eliminate the side effects related to general anesthesia looking for a lower perioperative risks and shorter hospital stays, especially in elderly patients and those with compromised respiratory function[2],[3], [4]. The thoracic epidural anesthesia has been effective allowing an adequate surgical approach, guaranteeing an idoneus level of analgesia, an optimal oxygenation, and facilitating an early postoperative recovery [1]. We present a case of a patient undergoing to lung biopsy performed by VATS patient under epidural block and Ramsay scale sedation level III in spontaneous ventilation, who was discharged 48 hours after the surgical procedure.
RESUMENLa cirugía torácica asistida por vídeo se realiza tradicionalmente bajo anestesia general e intubación endotraqueal con tubo de doble luz[1], [2]. En los últimos años ha existido una corriente creciente hacia la realización de estos procedimientos en pacientes bajo anestesia locorregional, particularmente con bloqueo epidural con o sin sedación y en ventilación espontánea, para procedimientos