Hypercapnia and acidosis during the thoracoscopic repair of oesophageal atresia and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Thoracoscopic operations in neonates, such as repair of oesophageal atresia and tracheooesophageal fistula or congenital diaphragmatic hernia, can be associated with intraoperative acidosis and hypercapnia in the absence of hypoxia. These derangements in intraoperative gas exchanges seem to be related to the insufflation and absorption of medical CO2. The effects on the developing brain are unknown, and further prospective investigations are needed to elucidate whether different strategies should be implemented to avoid these intraoperative problems.