Postoperative stable organic function is positively associated with the inhibition of an inflammatory response. Hence, under the consequence of organic disorder, both internal environment disturbance and inflammatory response are activated. In a retrospective study aiming to explore the independent predictors of hypoxemia, it was found that renal disorder is an independent factor associated with hypoxemia. Activated inflammatory response, unregulated production of erythropoietin, and abnormal delivery of oxygen are also considered possible mechanisms. However, there is no significant correlation between renal insufficiency and mild hypoxemia[5]. Moreover, according to Guo et al[6], it has been demonstrated that complicated hypertension is found in the majority of patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection, which leads to atherosclerosis, is negatively associated with pulmonary circulation, and may further induce postoperative hypoxemia. In addition, impairment of the respiratory system by the cascade reactions, originating from aortic dissection, is thought to be pro-inflammatory, which increases the permeability of both endothelial and epithelial cells. Pulmonary vascular pressure affects the physiological function of alveolar surfactant and eventually disturbs normal oxygenation processes[7]. Meanwhile, it has been indicated that angiotensin II is related to the apoptosis of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and the upregulated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Angiotensin II is widely considered the key factor during the development of dissection. It exaggerates elastin fragmentation and damages the structure of adventitial layer through activation of caspase-3 and imbalance of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein ratio. As a result, both angiotensin II and MCP-1 are critical factors for the inactivated alveolus-capillary barrier and increased pulmonary vascular permeability[8,9].

Clinically, during the postoperative stage, the respiratory function of obese patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection is less stable and insufficient to maintain the physiological demands due to limited rehabilitation processes. The lung compliance of obese patients is generally weaker, which means that both breathing difficulties and respiratory resistance are more frequent among the obese population. Obesity is also a driving factor for oxidative stress and reactive oxygen products causing direct deterioration of lung function even hypoxemia[10]. In a retrospective study conducted by Sheng et al[11], it has been found that 25 kg/m² of body mass index (BMI) is the threshold value; if exceeded, the assessment of lung function becomes worse and the possibility of complications with postoperative hypoxemia is greater. In another study focusing on the Japanese population, the obese threshold of BMI was set to 30 kg/m², while 25.5-29.0 kg/m² was defined as overweight. It was found that, compared with patients with normal weight, the incidences of ventilation > 48 h for the overweight and obese patients were 60.1% and 78.3%, respectively[12]. Shi et al[13] indicated that elevated free fatty acid in obese patients is associated with early postoperative lung damage through the process of endothelial activation and is inversely related to the lowest oxygen level 24 h after cardiac surgery. Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde is significantly increased in obese patients with aortic dissection, which indicates that the balance between oxidation and antioxidation is destroyed and sequentially larger secretions and synthesis of inflammatory factors are activated[14]. Meanwhile, patients with obesity are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and of note, OSA is the risk factor of the development for aortic dissection and postoperative hypoxemia. First, based on findings from a study conducted by Wang et al[15], aortic root diameter is positively correlated with the severity of OSA. Consequently, due to the negative effects of adverse apnea events causing failure of the oxidative system, the cascade of inflammatory reactions and release of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-6 are apparent among patients with OSA[16]. Similarly, in a retrospective study focusing on the Chinese patients, the predictive value of OSA on hypoxemia after Stanford type A aortic dissection should be emphasized although the exact mechanism remains unknown[17].

Since the surgical treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection is time consuming, considerable blood lost is inevitable during the procedure. Transfusion is necessary to maintain the relative normal level of hemoglobin. However, on the other hand, transfusion-related adverse events including allergy, immune response, infection, circulatory overload, and even organic injury should not be ignored and evaluated with caution. Currently, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is the most frequent adverse event that possibly may induce secondary severe postoperative hypoxemia. In a large cohort study enrolling a total of 8944 patients, with the aim of decreasing the incidence of TRALI, it was demonstrated that the mortality of TRALI in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 70%, which is significantly higher than that in other medical units. Hence, it is especially challenging to patients undergoing surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection, and some improvements have also been observed through the use of solvent/detergent plasma; nevertheless, there are no significant clinical differences[18]. Recently, enhanced coagulation and anticoagulation, as well as damaged fibrinolysis, have been found in the TRALI animal model, through which sequential increased fibrin accumulation in lungs led to platelet capture, the potential risk factor of hypercoagulable state and formation of pulmonary thrombin[19]. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), to some extent, is thought to be related to the clinical advancement of TRALI through the impairment of both lung tissue and endothelial cells. Le et al[20] found that the inhibition of protective factor, Krüppel-like Factor 2, is induced by microRNA 144 (miR-144) and further activates the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 1 signaling pathway, which are possibly responsible for the generation of NET. As another newer mechanism concentrating on the soluble antigen by Bayat et al[21], the binding between soluble cluster of differentiation 177/proteinase 3 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 activates endothelial cells and even overrides respiratory functional barrier. In addition to TRALI, transfusion-associated circulatory overload is another potential risk factor to pulmonary edema with clinical presentations including dyspnea, jugular vein engorgement, and elevated systolic blood pressure due to increased pulmonary vascular permeability[22].

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), an indispensable assisted platform during the surgical procedure of Stanford type A aortic dissection, is critically responsible for the maintenance and protection of normal cardiopulmonary physiological function. Nevertheless, CPB-related adverse events, which are gradually presented following the duration of surgery, include the immune response originating from extracorporeal blood circuit and injury of blood components by compression of the mechanical pump. Lung injury by CPB is mainly concluded as two significant points: ischemia-reperfusion injury and systematic inflammatory reaction. There is a synergistic effect for both, of which, vessels, tissue, and parenchyma of pulmonary are seriously affected. Therefore, a series of pathological alterations of the lungs, predicting postoperative hypoxemia and CPB duration association are observed such as impaired permeability, interstitial edema, fluid accumulation, reduced surface-active substances, and gas exchange disorder[23]. In an observatory study of a rat model, established by Deng et al[24], it was shown that high-mobility cassette-1/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB is a reliable signaling pathway that induces CPB-related lung injury and activates a pro-inflammatory effect. Moreover, recently, the association between ferroptosis and CPB-related lung injury was first demonstrated based on the finding that the level of labeled indicators for ferroptosis, glutathione peroxidase 4, and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 is regulated significantly within lung tissue after CPB[25]. As is well known, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is a special and important period during the entire surgical procedure of Stanford type A aortic dissection, within which a relative bloodless field is provided to increase the possibility of a successful surgery. On the other hand, DHCA is also a risk factor for some postoperative complications including hypoxemia due to ischemia and hypoxia. Kong et al[26] suggested that activated autophagy by DHCA is associated with lung injury and its presentation with time-dependent dynamic change characterized as activity decreasing at 3 h after surgery while increasing at 6 h after surgery. Metabolically, especially within the dorsocaudal lung region, CPB/DHCA also affects the regulation pathway of metabolites including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, steroids, and vitamins[27].

Severe pain and older age, to some extent, are closely correlated with postoperative hypoxemia, whereas reduced muscular strength with a grip < 15 s, due to inadequate evaluation of muscle reversal, is a higher significant predictor contributing to the hypoxemia[28]. Besides, smoking history, chronic respiratory disease, lower oxygenation with arterial oxygen saturation < 96% should be emphasized during the comprehensive assessment for postoperative hypoxemia, and interestingly, different from the obesity mentioned above, the possibility of postoperative hypoxemia for patients with relatively lower BMI < 18.5 kg/m² is also higher than that for those with normal BMI, possibly suggesting that malnourishment and/or other complicated chronic diseases are equally significant for the pathogenesis[29]. In an animal model of acute lung injury, Wu et al[30] indicated that the pulmonary edema, alveolar protein leaking, and inflammatory response were found in rats treated with hyperglycemia, which was associated with the upregulated serum-glucocorticoid kinase 1-NKCC1 pathway inhibiting excessive fluid removal and activating the inflammatory response. Morey et al[31] demonstrated that the synergy effect between hyperglycemia and hypoxemia is significant for persistent inflammation state delaying or even worsening the clinical outcome.

To date, conventionally, medicine intervention should be necessary and compulsory when postoperative hypoxemia occurs. It should predominantly include ulinastatin and sevoflurane, which mainly suppress inflammatory response and improve lung injury. Clinically, ulinastatin, as a regular trypsin inhibitor, is extracted from human urine and used in the treatment of acute or critical inflammatory response and organ functional failure. In accordance with the result of study conducted by Jiang et al[32], it has been indicated that the improvement of pulmonary edema by ulinastatin is presented through reduced permeability and enhanced alveolar fluid clearance, whose mechanism may involve two pathways, activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and suppressed TLR4/ myeloid differentiation primary response 88/NF-κB. Meanwhile, enhanced autophagy is also another medical target for relief of lung injury by ulinastatin via the upregulation of transforming growth factor-β1 and light chain 3 and the downregulation of α-smooth muscle actin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9[33]. Sevoflurane is used as a classic agent against acute lung injury through multiple pathways. Notably, the suppression of oxidative stress by sevoflurane is firstly elaborated in the mice model of acute lung injury, which is dependent on the pathway of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2[34]. In a similar study, the LINC00839/miR-223/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 axis was newly confirmed as the driven regulator involving the development of acute lung injury, through which sevoflurane can also be responsible for lung protection[35]. Nitric oxide (NO) has been currently adapted widely for the treatment of respiratory system failure and critical illness such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hypertension, and lung transplantation. In a retrospective study focusing on postoperative hypoxemia, the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia for patients who underwent low-dose NO therapy (5-10 ppm) after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection decreased and the length of ICU stay as well as duration of mechanical ventilation significantly improved. Of note, the only concern about this unique therapy was prolonged bleeding time due to restrained platelet aggregation and adhesion with endothelium by NO[36]. Furthermore, it has been suggested that NO therapy is especially adaptive to the improvement of postoperative refractory hypoxemia within 72 h after surgery[37,38]. Moreover, some promising results from other attempts have also been evaluated and verified. Prophylactic usage of erythropoietin is valuable in the prevention of lung injury with the exact mechanism, for example, decreasing the levels of negative inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and NF-κB; enhancing lung compliance, optimizing gas exchange; and reducing airway pressure[39]. On the other hand, the highly selective and potent α2 adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine, is an effective agent against oxidative stress injury with the aim of protecting lung tissue and maintaining normal physiological function by preserving mitochondrial dynamic equilibrium via the hypoxia inducible factor-1α/heme oxygenase 1 signaling pathway[40]. However, different opinions on the lung protection of dexmedetomidine from Kim et al[41] have shown that, regardless of the advantage of anti-oxidative stress presented with the decreasing of malondialdehyde, the increase in urine output and less usage of vasoactive agents, for dexmedetomidine, it does not play an important role on lung protection in surgery.

Mechanical ventilation is a necessary support after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection. It maintains the stability of vital signs and promotes rehabilitation. Traditionally, supine position is widely accepted as the standard mode of mechanical ventilation, while recently, the prone position is considered the better alternative option. In a meta-analysis conducted by Cao et al[42], it has been indicated that, compared with traditional supine position, the mortality of patients undergoing prone position ventilation is lower, especially for the population < 60 years despite the findings of some insignificant adverse events such as pressure ulcer, displacement of thoracotomy tube, and endotracheal tube obstruction. Based on the findings from another comparison study, under the support of prone position ventilation, compared with the supine position, the resting lung volume measured by functional residual capacity and end-expiratory lung volume increased while dynamic strain decreased, and all differences were significant[43]. As concluded, the lung protective and improved oxygenation mechanism of prone position ventilation is explained by the fact that first, lung volume is free from compression by heart; second, the improvement of ventilation/blood ratio, pulmonary shunts are eliminated; and third, the redistribution of edema fluid is influenced by gravity when the pressure changes gradually[44]. Furthermore, Fioretto et al[45] optimized the prone position ventilation strategy with high-frequency oscillatory and demonstrated that compared with conventional mechanical ventilation, the optimized strategy was more feasible and reliable in reducing oxidative damages and preventing lung injury. Also, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is an important mode for the improvement of hypoxemia. It has been suggested that PEEP has the potential to stabilize dependent lung regions at the end-expiration and inhibit inflammatory response during the stage of mechanical ventilation free from the influence of spontaneous breathing[46]. Wu et al[47] established a porcine model of ARDS exploring the practical feasibility of transpulmonary pressure guided PEEP. In accordance with this result, under transpulmonary pressure of 25 cm water, the positive effects of PEEP could be observed including compliance improvement, dead space ventilation reduction, and lung protection. In a clinical study for patients with moderate to severe ARDS, when PEEP was combined with prone position, relative lower titration of PEEP was more adaptive and recommended due to increased transpulmonary pressure caused by prone position[48]. However, obese patients with ARDS should be treated reversely and equipped with higher PEEP strategy to improve 60-d all-cause in-hospital mortality[49]. On the other hand, higher PEEP may involve the redistribution balance for both ventilation and perfusion within different lung units to avoid the excessive ineffective ventilation or perfusion, which adjusts the physiological ratio of ventilation/perfusion to optimize regional tidal volume and decrease the risk of lung injury[50]. Necessarily and possibly, even if mechanical ventilation is weaned, hypoxemic respiratory failure is also life threatening due to severe infection, edema, sepsis or ARDS; therefore, alternative high-flow nasal cannula is thought to be responsible for the persistent respiratory function improvement with comfortable acceptance, better airway clearance, and less abdominal distention[51].