Respiratory failure from metastatic choriocarcinoma: a survivor of mechanical ventilation.

A patient with respiratory failure from metastatic choriocarcinoma was treated with mechanical ventilation while receiving chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine. The patient recovered from respiratory failure with the assistance of standard mechanical ventilation using low tidal volumes. The patient has sustained clinical remission with normal respiratory function. Mechanical ventilation with low tidal volumes and a pressure-targeted approach should be considered in the patient who develops early respiratory failure from metastatic choriocarcinoma.