title: Value of transoesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis of intraoperative tumour embolization.
abstract: Malignant neoplasms such as renal cell carcinoma may invade the inferior vena cava leading to a risk of pulmonary tumour embolization during surgical excision. Although massive pulmonary tumour embolism occurs relatively rarely, it can have catastrophic consequences. We report the case of an acute intraoperative pulmonary tumour embolism during resection of a renal cell carcinoma. The use of transoesophageal echocardiography allowed the immediate diagnosis and appropriate management of the underlying cause of acute haemodynamic instability. The role of transoesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Larney
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000601:surgery; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000473:pathology