Anesthesia management of a patient with Meigs' syndrome: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Herein, we describe a case of Meigs' syndrome, a complex condition that poses a challenge for anesthesiologists to manage. Good anesthetic management of this syndrome is necessary to preserve the prognosis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 80-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain, particularly in the left lower abdomen, with aggravation after activity. The patient was unable to sleep in a supine position. Her serum carbohydrate antigen 125 level was 253.15 U/mL(−1), and laboratory examinations were nonspecific. On auscultation, breath sounds were absent from the base of the right lung. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed to screen for a possible tumor consisting of both solid and cystic components, but the findings were inconclusive. Chest CT showed large right pleural effusions and hiatal hernia. DISCUSSION: A multidisciplinary team conducted careful preoperative preparation, while the anesthesiology team prepared detailed peri-anesthesia management strategies to regulate acid-base and electrolyte balance and maintain respiratory and hemodynamic stability. The surgeon resected the tumor successfully. The patient was discharged after 1 week. A postoperative pathology test confirmed fibrothecomas. CONCLUSION: We provided an effective strategy for the anesthetic management of Meigs' syndrome, which remains a complex challenge for anesthesiologists. It is important that anesthesiologists perform adequate preoperative evaluation and prudent peri-anesthesia management to ensure that patients have a good prognosis and discharge healthily. A multidisciplinary team is essential when caring for patients with Meigs' syndrome.