ABSTRACT
Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat primary or metastatic pulmonary tumors when surgery is not indicated or involves high risk. Although this technique is less invasive than surgical resection, it is not free of risk for complications and adverse events, especially when it is used in patients with serious respiratory disease in whom comorbidity is common. We report 2 cases of serious complications. One was an intractable air leak that led to death. The other was a large hemothorax that was brought under control in the radiology procedure room. We review the literature on this technique as well as recommendations that contribute to making it as safe as possible.
Subject(s)
Catheter Ablation/adverse effects , Hemothorax/etiology , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Subcutaneous Emphysema/etiology , Aged , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Male , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
La radiofrecuencia es una técnica alternativa para el tratamiento de tumores pulmonares, primarios o metastásicos, aplicable cuando la cirugía no está indicada o implica un elevado riesgo. Aunque menos agresiva que la resección quirúrgica, la técnica no está desprovista de posibles complicaciones y efectos secundarios, máxime cuando se aplica sobre pacientes con una patología respiratoria grave y frecuente comorbilidad. Presentamos dos complicaciones graves, una fuga aérea intratable que causó el fallecimiento del paciente y un hemotórax de gran cuantía que pudo ser controlado en la propia sala de radiología. Se revisa la literatura sobre el tema y las recomendaciones para hacer la técnica lo más segura posible(AU)
Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat primary or metastatic pulmonary tumors when surgery is not indicated or involves high risk. Although this technique is less invasive than surgical resection, it is not free of risk for complications and adverse events, especially when it is used in patients with serious respiratory disease in whom comorbidity is common. We report 2 cases of serious complications. One was an intractable air leak that led to death. The other was a large hemothorax that was brought under control in the radiology procedure room. We review the literature on this technique as well as recommendations that contribute to making it as safe as possible(AU)
