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. 2013 Nov;57(6):606-9.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.123337.

Anaesthetic management of two different cases of mediastinal mass

Hemalatha Subbanna  1 , Poola N Viswanathan  1 , Manjula B Puttaswamy  1 , Ashwini Andini  1 , Tulsi Thimmegowda  1 , Sondekoppa N Bhagirath  1
Affiliations

Anaesthetic management of two different cases of mediastinal mass

Hemalatha Subbanna et al. Indian J Anaesth. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

We report the management of two paediatric cases undergoing median sternotomy and right lateral thoracotomy for mediastinal mass. An 8-year-old boy presented with a history of intermittent fever and episodes of respiratory illness since 3 years and a 16-year-old girl presented with dyspnoea, cough, fever and dysphagia for solid foods. Radiological investigation confirmed the diagnoses. Absence of pressure symptoms pointed towards a compressible mass in the boy and indicated a non-compressible mass in the girl. We discuss the anaesthetic management of the younger patient with an uneventful course as opposed to the older patient where airway obstruction ensued soon after induction and led to near-cardiopulmonary arrest necessitating rescue measures. Swift measures at securing airway while simultaneously resuscitating the patient served to successfully revert an otherwise fateful eventuality.

Keywords: Airway obstruction; general anaesthesia; lateral thoracotomy; median sternotomy; mediastinal mass.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Obscured right heart border
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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