Adult respiratory distress syndrome after extensive cytoreductive surgery. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by progressive hypoxemia, diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and normal left ventricular function.

CASE: A 58-year-old woman developed ARDS following extensive cytoreductive surgery for a widely disseminated intraperitoneal leiomyosarcoma. The patient had a favorable outcome after 10 days of ventilatory support, sedation, analgesia, parenteral and enteral nutrition, and fluid restriction. The ARDS might have been caused by multiple transfusions or the massive cytoreductive surgery and was probably mediated by cytokines and tumor necrosis factors.

CONCLUSION

Gynecologic oncologists should be alert to postoperative ARDS in patients undergoing massive cytoreduction with excessive blood loss and multiple transfusions.