Continuousin-vivo monitoring of arterial oxygen tension in a patient treated with bleomycin

Patients receiving bleomycin therapy may develop pulmonary fibrosis. The risk offibrosis is increased by the administration of general anaesthesia and fatal cases with pulmonary lesions resembling those of “oxygen toxicity” have been reported. The causes are not entirely clear but the enriched inspired oxygen given intraopera-tively or postoperatively has been identified as an etiological factor, Optimal intraoperative management thus requires the administration of the lowest inspired oxygen fraction (F1O2) compatible with adequate oxygenation.