Anesthetic and Intensive Care Approaches Following Radical Pneumonectomy: A Short Review of Patient Management and a Case Report

Around the world, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death and the most commonly diagnosed cancer. In the early stages, surgery is the preferable therapeutic strategy. We present the case of a male patient aged 49 years diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer of the left lower lobe who was referred for a radical left pneumonectomy. After careful preoperative preparation, the surgery was proceeded with. During the surgery, the patient needed bronchoscopy for the aspiration of the trachea and bronchial tree; after the aspiration procedure, an intraoperative massive hemorrhage started, with shock and ventricular tachycardia. Nine days after surgery, the patient developed a pulmonary embolism and returned to the ICU. The patient benefited from transfusion, intrathoracic cardiac compressions, pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO), renal replacement therapy (RRT), anticoagulation, and intensive care. After a complicated clinical course, the patient is discharged, and after more than 18 months, the patient comes regularly for follow-up consultation in good health.