One-Lung Ventilation/Lungs Separation

One-lung ventilation (OLV) means separation of the two lungs and each lung is functioningindependently by preparation of the airway. It provides protection of healthy lung from infected/bleeding one, diversion of ventilation from damaged airway or lung and improved exposure of surgical field. On the other hand, OLV causes more manipulation of airway with more damage, significant physiologic changes and easily development of hypoxemia.