Cardiopulmonary bypass for anesthetic management anterior medistinal teratoma: Case report

Perioperative anesthetic management in cases of severe airway obstruction with positional symptoms can be associated with difficulties in ventilation or intubation, with a risk of acute respiratory decompensation at every stage of anesthesia.

Here we describe the anesthetic management of an 18-year-old woman with a mature teratoma who presented with progressive exertional dyspnea that was aggravated in the supine position in the operating room. After tracheal intubation, the tidal volume decreased, airway pressure increased, and pet CO2 grew beyond 105 mmHg without oxygen desaturation, prompting a femoro-femoral cardio-pulmonary bypass.

Cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) can facilitate tumor dissection by safely deflating the lungs and retracting the heart, enhancing exposure and reducing risks of hemodynamic or respiratory complications. However, systemic heparinization may increase complications, necessitating a preoperative risk assessment.

Preoperative management of large mediastinal masses requires careful attention to tumor anatomical details and relationships with surrounding structures. Preoperative preparation includes multimodality imaging and multidisciplinary team discussions to assess MMS risk, requiring specialized center management.