[Anesthetic management of a patient with progressive spinal muscular atrophy]

Various problems especially weakness of respiratory muscle and abnormal reaction to muscle relaxant exist during the management of anesthesia for the patients with neuromuscular disease with the disturbance of motor neurons. We had a patient for trans-urethral resection of prostate with spinal progressive muscular atrophy. Using nitrous oxide-oxygen with halothane, and without muscle relaxant, we succeeded in avoiding respiratory failure, aspiration and other serious complications. By measuring serum sodium, rapid discovery and treatment of water intoxication could be achieved.