On the crucial ventilatory setting adjustment from two- to one-lung ventilation

► Tidal volumes calculated on the basis of two healthy lungs are twice as great in their impact when delivered to a single lung. ► A tidal volume that would be appropriate to two-lung ventilation should be avoided when changing into one-lung ventilation. ► During one-lung ventilation with tidal volume appropriately calculated for such condition, the use of 5 cm H2O PEEP could be useful to maintain arterial oxygenation without inducing a possible inflammatory/remodeling response.