[A case of metastatic lung cancer detected by intraoperative fiberoptic bronchoscopy]

A 64-year-old woman, who had undergone left-pneumonectomy one and a half month before, had the resection of metastatic brain tumor. After the end of the surgical procedure, we performed the fiberoptic bronchoscopy for suctioning secretion because we had decided to extubate the endotracheal tube in the operating room. By chance we found a metastatic lung tumor at the entrance of the right upper bronchus. This could not be identified even by means of the postoperative chest X-ray and CT scan. We anesthesiologists should be thoroughly trained in the technique of fiberoptic endoscopy. With this technique we can contribute to the better perioperative management of the patient. It is also important that enough number of fiberscopes are available.