Combination of general anaesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia in mitochondrial myopathy

Regional anesthesia in pediatric patients with preexisting neurological disease

Preexisting neurological disease in pediatric patients presents unique challenges to the anesthesiologist. In-depth knowledge of the disease processes and awareness of sequalae that uniquely influence the risks and benefits of anesthetics are needed to make informed decisions. Because these vulnerable populations are often susceptible to perioperative airway or cardiopulmonary complications, the use of regional anesthesia can be advantageous. However, these clinical conditions already involve compromised neural tissue and, as such, create additional concern that regional anesthesia may result in new or worsened deficits. The following discussion is not intended to be a full review of each disease process, but rather provides a concise, yet thorough, discussion of the available literature on regional anesthesia in the more common, but still rare, pediatric neurological disorders. We aim to provide a framework for pediatric anesthesiologists to reengage in a healthy discussion about the risks and benefits of utilizing regional anesthesia in this vulnerable population.

Anesthetic Management in Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy: A Case Report

We report on a morbidly obese 16-year-old boy (weight, 116 kg; height, 176 cm; body mass index, 35.5 kg/m²) with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and a history of cerebral infarction, epilepsy, and severe mental retardation. The patient was scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia for multiple dental caries and entropion of the left eye. Preoperative examination results, including an electrocardiogram, were normal. No obvious cardiac function abnormalities were observed on echocardiography. Midazolam (10 mg) was administered orally as premedication 30 minutes before transfer to the operating room; however, the patient was uncooperative, and his body movements were difficult to control upon entering the operating room. This complicated our attempts to establish a peripheral intravenous line and necessitated volatile inhalational induction, followed by maintenance using total intravenous anesthesia. General anesthesia was used to minimize metabolic system stress. We did not use an infusion solution containing sodium lactate. The operation and subsequent clinical course until discharge were uneventful. Because aerobic metabolism is already compromised in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, anesthetic management should be designed to avoid placing additional stress on the metabolic system.

Anesthetic considerations for renal transplant surgery in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome: a case report

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome is a progressive syndrome with variable involvement of multiple-organ systems. These patients require special consideration for preoperative optimization, intraoperative management, and postoperative care. The medical literature regarding perioperative management of these patients relies heavily on case reports. Here we present a novel experience providing care for a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome who underwent renal transplantation for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and end-stage renal disease.

Posterior spinal instrumented fusion for idiopathic scoliosis in patients with multisystemic neurodegenerative disorder: a report of two cases

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke (MELAS) syndrome is a progressive multisystemic neurodegenerative disorder. MELAS syndrome impairs oxidative phosphorylation and predisposes patients to lactic acidosis, particularly under metabolic stress. We report 2 siblings with MELAS-associated idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal instrumented fusion with measures taken to minimise anaesthetic and surgical stress, blood loss, and operating time.

Perioperative considerations in adult mitochondrial disease: A case series and a review of 111 cases

Mitochondrial disease has been uncommon conditions, still results in death during childhood in many cases. The ideal anesthetic pharmacological management strategy for adult patients with mitochondrial disease is currently unclear. In this study, we presented features of the anesthesia methods employed and the perioperative complications of patients in our institution and in previously published case reports. We report the use of general anesthesia 7 times in 6 adult patients with mitochondrial disease during 2004-2014. All cases were performed with maintained intravenous anesthesia. One case was reintubated on the day after surgery, but the cause of death was not directly related to anesthesia. One hundred and eleven general anesthesia cases in 97 adult patients with mitochondrial disease were described in 83 the literature. Although several severe perioperative complications and deaths have been reported, malignant hyperthermia had not been reported in adult cases, and metabolic disorder called propofol infusion syndrome had also not been reported in adult patients undergone total intravenous anesthesia. Perioperative complications of lactic acidosis were reported more in inhalation anesthesia than intravenous anesthesia. Therefore we recommended intravenous anesthesia rather than inhalation anesthesia for adult mitochondrial disease.