Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with Leigh syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a rare disease caused by abnormalities of mitochondrial energy generation. The central nervous system is most frequently affected, with psychomotor underdevelopment, seizures, nystagmus, ophthalmoparesis, optic atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, or respiratory failure. Surgical and anesthetic procedures stimulate the tracheal irritability, and could exacerbate risks of aspiration, wheezing, breathing difficulties, gasping, hypoventilation, and apnea. CASE REPORT: We present the anesthetic management for a six-year-old boy with severe form of LS, involving repair of a femur fracture. Propofol and remifentanil were infused for general anesthesia. The patient was closely monitored during anesthesia and in the intensive care unit in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Close intraoperative monitoring of patients, including invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring and frequently measuring the levels of blood gases, glucose, and lactate, made this procedure run smoothly. Intensive care and breathing support for the patient with LS, under sedation with an analgesic combination during the early postoperative period, minimized the stress response due to pain after surgery.

Abordagem anestésica em paciente pediátrico com síndrome de Leigh / Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with Leigh syndrome / Abordaje anestésico en paciente Pediátrico con el síndrome de Leigh

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A síndrome de Leigh (SL) é uma doença rara causada por anomalias na produção de energia mitocondrial. O sistema nervoso central é afetado com mais frequência, com retardo psicomotor, convulsões, nistagmo, oftalmoparesia, atrofia óptica, ataxia, distonia ou insuficiência respiratória. Os procedimentos cirúrgicos e anestésicos provocam irritabilidade traqueal e podem exacerbar os riscos de aspiração, sibilação, dificuldade respiratória, respiração ofegante, hipoventilação e apneia. RELATO DE CASO: Apresentamos uma abordagem anestésica usada em um menino de seis anos com a forma grave de SL que envolve reparação de uma fratura de fêmur. Propofol e remifentanil foram infundidos para anestesia geral. O paciente foi atentamente monitorado durante a anestesia e sua permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva no período pós-operatório inicial. CONCLUSÕES: Uma atenta monitoração intraoperatória dos pacientes, que inclui pressão arterial invasiva e mensurações frequentes da gasometria, glicose e lactato, faz esse procedimento transcorrer sem problemas. A terapia intensiva e a assistência respiratória ao paciente com SL sob sedação, com uma combinação de analgésicos durante o período pós-operatório inicial, minimizaram a resposta ao estresse causado pela dor pós-cirúrgica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a rare disease caused by abnormalities of mitochondrial energy generation. The central nervous system is most frequently affected, with psychomotor underdevelopment, seizures, nystagmus, ophthalmoparesis, optic atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, or respiratory failure. Surgical and anesthetic procedures stimulate the tracheal irritability, and could exacerbate risks of aspiration, wheezing, breathing difficulties, gasping, hypoventilation, and apnea. CASE REPORT: We present the anesthetic management for a six-year-old boy with severe form of LS, involving repair of a femur fracture. Propofol and remifentanil were infused for general anesthesia. The patient was closely monitored during anesthesia and in the intensive care unit in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Close intraoperative monitoring of patients, including invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring and frequently measuring the levels of blood gases, glucose, and lactate, made this procedure run smoothly. Intensive care and breathing support for the patient with LS, under sedation with an analgesic combination during the early postoperative period, minimized the stress response due to pain after surgery.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El síndrome de Leigh (SL) es una enfermedad rara causada por anomalías en la producción de energía mitocondrial. El sistema nervioso central está afectado más a menudo, con el retardo psicomotor, convulsiones, nistagmo, oftalmoparesia, atrofia óptica, ataxia, distonía o insuficiencia respiratoria. Los procedimientos quirúrgicos y anestésicos provocan irritabilidad traqueal y pueden exacerbar los riesgos de aspiración, sibilancias, dificultad respiratoria, respiración extenuante, hipoventilación y apnea. RELATO DE CASO: Presentamos un abordaje anestésico usado en un niño de 6 años, con la forma grave de SL que nos ocupa con la reparación de una fractura de fémur. El propofol y el remifentanilo se infundieron para la anestesia general. El paciente fue monitoreado con mucho cuidado durante la anestesia y durante su permanencia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos en el período postoperatorio inicial. CONCLUSIONES: Una meticulosa monitorización intraoperatória de los pacientes, que incluye monitorización de presión arterial invasiva y mensuraciones frecuentes de la gasometría, glucosa y lactato, posibilita el perfecto transcurso del procedimiento. Los cuidados intensivos y la asistencia respiratoria al paciente con SL bajo sedación con una combinación de analgésicos durante el período postoperatorio inicial, minimizaron la respuesta al estrés causado por el dolor postquirúrgico.

Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient with leigh syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Leigh syndrome (LS) is a rare disease caused by abnormalities of mitochondrial energy generation. The central nervous system is most frequently affected, with psychomotor underdevelopment, seizures, nystagmus, ophthalmoparesis, optic atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, or respiratory failure. Surgical and anesthetic procedures stimulate the tracheal irritability, and could exacerbate risks of aspiration, wheezing, breathing difficulties, gasping, hypoventilation, and apnea. CASE REPORT: We present the anesthetic management for a six-year-old boy with severe form of LS, involving repair of a femur fracture. Propofol and remifentanil were infused for general anesthesia. The patient was closely monitored during anesthesia and in the intensive care unit in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Close intraoperative monitoring of patients, including invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring and frequently measuring the levels of blood gases, glucose, and lactate, made this procedure run smoothly. Intensive care and breathing support for the patient with LS, under sedation with an analgesic combination during the early postoperative period, minimized the stress response due to pain after surgery.