Intrathecal morphine in conjunction with a combined spinal and general anesthetic in a patient with multiple sclerosis

[Neuraxial anesthesia in patients with multiple sclerosis - a systematic review]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines for neuraxial analgesia in patients with multiple sclerosis are ambiguous and offer the clinician only a limited basis for decision making. This systematic review examines the number of cases in which multiple sclerosis has been exacerbated after central neuraxial analgesia in order to rationally evaluate the safety of these procedures.

METHODS

A systematic literature search with the keywords "anesthesia or analgesia" and "epidural, peridural, caudal, spinal, subarachnoid or intrathecal" in combination with "multiple sclerosis" was performed in the databases PubMed and Embase, looking for clinical data on the effect of central neuraxial analgesia on the course of multiple sclerosis.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Over a period of 65 years, our search resulted in 37 reports with a total of 231 patients. In 10 patients multiple sclerosis was worsened and nine multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica was first diagnosed in a timely context with central neuraxial analgesia. None of the cases showed a clear relation between cause and effect. Current clinical evidence does not support the theory that central neuraxial analgesia negatively affects the course of multiple sclerosis.

[Regional anesthesia and neurological diseases]

Modern anesthesia is handling an increasing number of patients with neurological diseases who require narcosis. Regional anesthesia techniques offer qualities which might be advantageous for this group particularly for childbirth. The number of pregnant women with neurological diseases has increased significantly in the recent years due to improved diagnostics and therapy. A more careful approach to regional anesthesia in patients with neurological diseases is necessary as the drugs themselves possess neurotoxic effects and the procedure might worsen the underlying neurological diseases. Additionally, performing regional anesthesia might be more complicated and the resulting blockade might be different from the expected neuronal block. Published data concerning regional anesthesia in this patient group are limited and mainly restricted to case reports. In this review general considerations regarding regional anesthesia, techniques, drugs and methods in these patient groups will be discussed. In the second part the practical approach to regional anesthesia for some of the most important neurological diseases is highlighted.

Neuraxial Anesthesia and Analgesia in Patients with Preexisting Central Nervous System Disorders

Historically, the use of regional anesthetic techniques in patients with preexisting central nervous system (CNS) disorders has been considered relatively contraindicated. The fear of worsening neurologic outcome secondary to mechanical trauma, local anesthetic toxicity, or neural ischemia is commonly reported. We examined the frequency of new or progressive neurologic complications in patients with preexisting CNS disorders who subsequently underwent neuraxial blockade. The medical records of all patients at the Mayo Clinic from the period 1988 to 2000 with a history of a CNS disorder who subsequently received neuraxial anesthesia or analgesia were retrospectively reviewed. One-hundred-thirty-nine (n = 139) patients were identified for study inclusion. Mean patient age was 60 +/- 17 yr. Gender distribution was 86 (62%) males and 53 (38%) females. An established CNS disorder diagnosis was present a mean of 23 +/- 23 yr at the time of surgical anesthesia, with 74 (53%) patients reporting active neurologic symptoms. Spinal anesthesia was performed in 75 (54%) patients, epidural anesthesia or analgesia in 58 (42%) patients, continuous spinal anesthesia in 4 (3%) patients, and a combined spinal-epidural technique in 2 (1%) patients. Bupivacaine was the local anesthetic most commonly used in all techniques. Epinephrine was added to the injectate in 72 (52%) patients. There were 15 (11%) technical complications, with the unintentional elicitation of a paresthesia and traumatic needle placement occurring most frequently. A satisfactory block was reported in 136 (98%) patients. No new or worsening postoperative neurologic deficits occurred when compared to preoperative findings (0.0%; 95% confidence interval, 0.0%-0.3%). We conclude that the risks commonly associated with neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia in patients with preexisting CNS disorders may not be as frequent as once thought and that neuraxial blockade should not be considered an absolute contraindication within this patient population.

Analgésie et anesthésie obstétricale chez les patientes atteintes de sclérose en plaques

OBJECTIVES

The use of epidural analgesia and anaesthesia is controversial in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to the potential neurotoxicity of local anaesthetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the place and the safety of epidural obstetrical analgesia in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A consecutive series of 19 patients with MS was studied over 4 years, recording the type of anaesthesia and the obstetric and neurologic observations during the pregnancy and post-partum.

RESULTS

Ten patients had epidural analgesia. One patient had a caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. Five patients relapsed during the post-partum period. Only one of them had an epidural for a spontaneous vaginal delivery, without any evidence of a causal relationship. Spinal anaesthesia is generally not advocated in the presence of MS due to concerns relating to the stronger local anaesthetics required and was therefore not used.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm that epidural analgesia is innocuous in this context. The important points are the precise evaluation of the existing neurological symptoms and the sparing of local anaesthetics thanks to the addition of opioids.