A Case in which Prone-positioning Ventilation and Corticosteroid Medication were Effective for ARDS Developing after Esophagectomy for Esophageal Carcinoma

Abstract

We report the case of a 72-year-old man who had undergone radical esophagectomy for advanced esophageal carcinoma, and developed severe pneumonia the day after surgery. Despite antibiotic treatment, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was identified. On day 18 after surgery, we started prone-positioning ventilation and corticosteroid medication. Respiratory status improved smoothly and he was weaned from ventilator support. In recent years, the effectiveness of prone-positioning ventilation for severe ARDS patients has been reported. On the other hand, indications for corticosteroids for ARDS remain controversial. In this case, both prone-positioning ventilation and corticosteroid medication were very effective for severe ARDS.