Anesthetic management during anterior mediastinal mass resection in a pediatric patient. A case report.

Complications induced by general anesthesia (GA) and neuromuscular relaxation (NMR) in anterior mediastinal mass (AMM) resection can be serious, especially when there are signs of compression of the airway or large vessels (dyspnea, orthopnea, etc.) (1). It is preferable to perform the procedure in spontaneous ventilation to avoid respiratory or cardiovascular collapse due to the supine position or to loss of negative intrathoracic pressure with GA and NMR. If the supine position and NMR are unavoidable, procedures should be performed in a step-wise manner, and rescue strategies should be prepared (rescue position, bronchoscope, sternotomy). Correct preoperative evaluation, adequate planning, and a multidisciplinary approach will ensure patient safety. We present the case of a child with a history of severe orthopnea and a diagnosis of AMM and lymphoblastic lymphoma (respiratory arrest and cardiovascular collapse during sedation for lumbar puncture and bone marrow biopsy) that did not respond to medical treatment and required resection surgery under GA with NMR.