Bleomycin therapy and anaesthesia. The possible hazards of oxygen administration to patients after treatment with bleomycin.

Bleomycin is a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of teratoma of the testis. This drug appears to sensitize the lungs so that acute lung damage occurs with concentrations of oxygen normally considered free from toxic effects. Two anaesthetics administered to the same patient undergoing thoracotomy are reported. No postoperative lung damage was produced on either occasion.