[Disseminated tumor cell embolism of the lung as a cause of sudden death during general anesthesia].
A 56-year-old woman was hospitalized because of jaundice, vomiting, and weight loss. Diagnostic measures were almost all negative except for computer tomography of the abdomen, which revealed a cyst in the pancreas. During performance of a diagnostic laparotomy the patient suddenly died, presenting with cyanosis and untreatable circulatory failure with a markedly elevated central venous pressure. Autopsy revealed pulmonary tumor-cell embolization. This rare cause of sudden death is characterized by the discrepancy between the clinical picture and the virtually negative preoperative diagnostic results. We present this case report as a reminder of this clinical entity and recommend an autopsy in every case of unexpected death under anesthesia.
Abteilung für Anaesthesiologie, Städtische Kliniken Köln-Merheim.
D M
DM
Weidemann
J P
JP
de Jonge
M H
MH
Blessing
M H
MH
Doehn
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications*
Disseminierte Tumorzellembolie der Lunge als Ursache eines plötzlichen Todes unter Allgemeinanaesthesie.