Prehabilitation and anaesthetic management for resection of a large primary pulmonary liposarcoma: A case report
Jan Ngian, Marianne Chee, Kenny LohBackground
Primary pulmonary liposarcomas are exceedingly rare malignancies that can present as massive thoracic masses compromising cardiopulmonary reserve. While radical resection is a primary determinant of outcome, these patients are often high surgical risk candidates due to poor functional reserve and the significant perioperative risks of such surgeries.
Case description
A 67-year-old gentleman with a giant pulmonary liposarcoma causing severe restrictive lung function underwent a 4-week prehabilitation program that resulted in significant functional improvement. This allowed for him to undergo successful left thoracotomy and radical resection of the tumour and he was discharged well on post operative day 16.
Conclusion
This case report highlights the perioperative challenges and considerations in the management for high-risk thoracic surgery. It further emphasises the role of a prehabilitation program for optimising functional reserves in such physiologically compromised patients.