General anesthesia
Patients were monitored in the operating room by ASA standards. Patients were administered 0.03 mg/kg midazolam for premedication intravenously (iv). Following preoxygenation, anesthesia was induced with 2 mg/kg propofol, 1.5 mcg/kg fentanyl, and 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium. Patients were intubated with a left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube and the position of the double-lumen endobronchial tube was checked by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Arterial cannulation was applied to all patients after general anesthesia to perform arterial pressure monitorization and arterial blood gas analyses. Anesthesia was maintained by administering sevoflurane in oxygen and air mixture and by administering remifentanil infusion at a dose of 0.01–0.20 mcg/kg/min. An increase or decrease in the rate of remifentanil infusion was adjusted to hemodynamic parameters. Before the commencement of the surgical procedure, blocks were performed under US guidance. Thoracotomy was performed with the posterolateral technique in a clinic where frequent thoracic surgery and thoracotomy were performed. After thoracotomy, 2 chest tubes were placed in the patients. The first of the chest tubes is placed in the posterior axillary line and the seventh/eighth intercostal space, while the second is placed in the anterior axillary line and the sixth/seventh intercostal space. At the end of the operation, all patients were extubated and transferred to the surgical intensive care unit in spontaneous breathing.