[Anesthetic management of patients with malignant pleural effusion undergoing hyperthermic perfusion under...

Nine patients with malignant pleural effusion due to lung cancer had been scheduled for hyperthermic treatment with warmed distilled water (40 degrees C) under thoracoscopy. This treatment aims to produce adhesion of the lungs to reduce pleural effusion. To evaluate the risk of general anesthesia for patients with lung cancer at the end stage, we examined the problems of perioperative management. Seven out of nine patients were classified into ASA physical status > or = III and seven patients into Hugh Jones > or = III Shapiro's score was > or = 5 in four patients. The average %VC was 60 +/- 16 and % FEV1.0 was 41 +/- 18% (means +/- SE). A double lumen endotracheal tube was inserted and anesthesia was maintained with inhalational anesthetics. In two cases, one-lung ventilation could not be maintained because of severe hypoxemia during hyperthermic perfusion. Hypertension occurred in three cases and hypotension in one by direct heat stimulation of the cardiopulmonary system. Although their preoperative risk was poor, there were no major complications and the quality of life was improved. We stress that careful anesthetic management is important for avoiding hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability during this treatment.