[Acute oxygen desaturation following peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy]

Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may have a significant impact on physiological functions and is therefore a special challenge for anesthetists. In the presented case after opening the parietal pleura during subphrenical peritonectomy the HIPEC solution accidentally leaked into the right hemithorax with subsequent pleural effusion of more than 2,000 ml. After extubation the patient presented with acute oxygen desaturation and orthopnea. Following pleural sonography and chest X-ray in the operating theatre and recovery area, a thorax drainage was inserted into the pleural space and ventilation support was provided by non-invasive continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) ventilation. With reference to recent publications the anesthesiological management of patients undergoing HIPEC is presented.