A 70-year-old man was presented to the intensive care unit with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure 48 hours after undergoing surgical resection for stage IIIb adenocarcinoma of the lung. The surgery was performed in the lower lobe of the left lung. At the time of the operation, the patient was given 5.5 L of fluid infusion, and the total fluid infusion during the entire peri-operative period was 8.0 L with 0.7 L net negative. Removal of endotracheal tube was performed in the recovery room without any complications. However, dyspnea and hypoxemia were observed nearly 36 hours later.
Four hours later, intubation was done for mechanical ventilation due to persistent hypoxemia. His medical history included stage IIIb adenocarcinoma, which was diagnosed three months before the surgery. Preoperative treatment had included radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patient also had a history of…
