Anterior mediastinal masses can obstruct the SVC, major airways, and even the heart. A series of 105 operations on patients with mediastinal masses showed that 3.8% had cardiorespiratory complications, and 11% had post-operative respiratory complications (7 of which were life-threatening, i.e. 6.67% overall) [Bechard P et al. Anesthesiology 100: 826, 2004]. Risk factors in this […]