[Anesthesia for three patients with Hunter syndrome].

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Genetics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Hunter syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, poses significant anesthetic challenges, primarily due to potential airway compromise.
• Airway obstruction is a critical concern in patients with Hunter syndrome, necessitating specialized anesthetic strategies.

Observation:

• This report details the anesthetic management of three patients with Hunter syndrome undergoing various surgical procedures.
• Case 1 involved a pediatric patient managed with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and fiberoptic intubation.
• Case 2 utilized regional anesthesia (lateral cutaneous nerve block) and monitored anesthesia care, while Case 3 required general anesthesia with LMA placement and manual ventilation due to failed regional anesthesia.

Findings:

• Successful anesthetic management was achieved across all three cases using tailored approaches, including LMA use, fiberoptic intubation, regional anesthesia, and monitored anesthesia care.
• The study highlights that airway management difficulty in Hunter syndrome may correlate with patient age, with older patients potentially presenting greater challenges.

Implications:

• These findings underscore the importance of thorough preoperative airway evaluation and individualized anesthetic planning for patients with Hunter syndrome.
• Developing and implementing specific anesthetic protocols can mitigate risks associated with airway compromise in this population.
• Further research into age-related airway changes in Hunter syndrome could refine anesthetic guidelines and improve patient outcomes.