[Cancer Treatment and Anaesthesia - What are the Perioperative Considerations?]

Abstract

Modern oncological treatment options are significantly extending patient survival. As a result, anaesthetists are increasingly faced with patients who have been pre-treated with immunotherapy or chemotherapy, are currently undergoing a cycle of therapy, or even need to receive chemotherapy intraoperatively. As the anaesthetic agents and perioperative analgesics may interfere with the oncological drugs, it is of interest for the anaesthetist to be aware of the spectrum of side effects and incompatibilities and to adapt the anaesthetic and perioperative treatment regimens accordingly. The aim of this review article is to present the relevant information and provide the clinician with recommendations on where problems may occur and how they can be avoided.