title: Anaesthesia for emergency caesarean section in a patient with large anterior mediastinal tumour presenting as intrathoracic airway compression and superior vena cava obstruction.
abstract: Anterior mediastinal mass is an uncommon pathology that presents significant anaesthetic challenges because of cardiopulmonary compromise. We present a case that presented in the third trimester of pregnancy with severe breathlessness, orthopnoea, and symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction. The patient had emergency Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia with a good outcome. The paper discusses the relevant perioperative considerations for this complex scenario and reviews reports of similar conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: James C S
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Hiong