Lumbar epidural anesthesia in a high-risk patient with advanced lung cancer, multi-organ metastasis and hydropneumothorax: A case report

Abstract

Epidural anesthesia (EA) can be applied in the perioperative period (PP) in addition to general anesthesia (GA) or as a stand-alone anesthesia technique. EA provides better hemodynamic stability in high-risk patients, reduced neurohormonal surgical stress response, and preserved airway reflexes with spontaneous breathing. In addition, EA prevents pulmonary dysfunction through decreasing multifactorial mediators, improves pulmonary functions by reducing the decrease in functional residual capacity, and protects spontaneous respiratory and airway reflexes. Herein, we wanted to emphasize the importance of the perioperative approach, the choice of anesthesia technique, and the effects of this choice on the postoperative period in a high-risk patient with incidental stage four lung adenocarcinoma, right parietal brain, lumbar vertebral, liver, and adrenal metastasis, as well as hydropneumothorax. With a successful epidural catheterization and anesthesia, the patient was follow-up without any problems. As in our patient, we should adopt a multimodal approach in the perioperative period, perform a detailed examination before the operation, and evaluate all risks and benefits comparatively when choosing the most appropriate anesthesia technique. Thus, it should be kept in mind that the chosen technique will significantly affect perioperative complications, morbidity and mortality, drug use, length of hospital stay, and cost.