ANESTHESIA IN LOCAL TUMOR SURGERY

The techniques of minimally invasive therapy (MIT) are becoming widely applicable for a wide range of surgical procedures including local tu mour surgery. In order to realize the potential benefits of MIT proced ures for tumour surgery, namely less trauma, reduction of postoperativ e pain, reduced impairment of postoperative pulmonary function, a shor ter hospital stay and an earlier return to normal activities, the anae sthesiologist should bear the following points in mind: careful pre-op erative patient assessment, adequate intra-operative monitoring, an ap propriate anaesthetic technique, safe patient positioning, a knowledge of the potential risks of gas insufflation, and adequate postanaesthe sia care. Anaesthetic management includes monitored anaesthetic care f or local anaesthesia, sedation and sedo-analgesia, including spinal or epidural anaesthesia, or general anaesthesia, depending on the route of access, duration of the procedure, pre-operative findings and patie nt compliance.