A Breath Away from Collapse: Anesthetic Challenges of an Incidental Mediastinal Mass
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-19-2026
Abstract
A 78-year-old female with no significant medical history presented with chest pain five days after sustaining right ankle and tibial plateau fractures from a fall. CTA chest was negative for pulmonary embolism but revealed a large left superior mediastinal mass and a separate precarinal mass. These findings raised concern for dynamic airway compression under anesthesia. The anesthetic plan prioritized maintenance of spontaneous ventilation and airway patency during induction. This case underscores the importance of recognizing mediastinal mass physiology and highlights key considerations in perioperative risk stratification, airway management, and multidisciplinary planning to mitigate the risk of airway collapse.
Recommended Citation
Chang V, Soto R. A breath away from collapse: anesthetic challenges of an incidental mediastinal mass. Presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting; 2026 Oct 19; San Diego, CA. Available from: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21448/presentation/7802
Comments
American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting, October 16-20, 2026, San Diego, CA