Anaesthetic management of an infant with anterior mediastinal mass

A substantial mediastinal mass in a small infant can create a dilemma regar ding the safest mode of airway management. To ensure safety at all times, w e adopted one lung ventilation for fear of compression of the carina and/or both main bronchi. Anaesthesia was maintained at a very light plane by the use of local nerve blocks to secure the airway and epidural analgesia for surgery until the tumour was moblized.