[A report of 6 cases with facial flushing, decreased arterial blood pressure and increased heart rate during thoracic surgery].

: We report 6 cases with facial flushing, decreased arterial blood pressure and increased heart rate during thoracic surgery. These symptoms appeared 28 +/- 9 minutes (mean +/- SD) after the beginning of the surgery. Arterial blood pressure decreased significantly from 92/48 mmHg to 72/40 mmHg. While heart rate increased significantly from 66 to 83 beats x min(-1). Arterial blood pressure returned to the original values 22 +/- 9 minutes from the appearance of the symptoms. When facial flushing concomitant with circulatory instability occurs during lung surgery, it is important to rule out immediately anaphylactic reaction to the drugs administered and to maintain circulation appropriately.