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Published on: December 1, 2023
Anesthetic management in a patient with Kindler's syndrome
Sohan Lal Solanki1, Amit Jain, Ishwar Bhukal
1Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Insights
Anesthetic management for Kindler syndrome patients undergoing surgery requires careful attention to airway and skin fragility. This case highlights successful oral fiberoptic intubation and securement techniques for epidermolysis bullosa guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Dermatology
- Genetics
Background:
- Kindler syndrome is a rare genodermatosis characterized by progressive skin atrophy, blistering, and poikiloderma.
- Patients with Kindler syndrome present significant anesthetic challenges due to potential airway difficulties and fragile skin.
Observation:
- A 35-year-old male with Kindler syndrome and pan-anterior urethral stricture required perineal urethrostomy.
- Preoperative assessment revealed limited neck extension, mouth opening, Mallampati class III, and a history of Grade IV Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopy.
- Skin fragility necessitated specialized techniques for securing IV access and monitoring devices.
Findings:
- Successful oral fiberoptic tracheal intubation was achieved using a water-based lubricant and a 7-mm endotracheal tube.
- Specialized methods, including Coban™ Wrap and Webril® cotton, were employed for secure IV cannulation and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring.
- The surgical procedure was completed without complications.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of managing complex airway and skin fragility in Kindler syndrome patients during surgery.
- Adherence to epidermolysis bullosa guidelines is crucial for optimizing anesthetic care in such rare genetic conditions.
- Effective anesthetic strategies can ensure successful surgical outcomes for patients with severe genodermatoses.
Abstract:
A 35-year-old male with pan-anterior urethral stricture was scheduled to undergo perineal urethrostomy. He was a known case of Kindler's syndrome since infancy. He was having a history of blister formation, extensive poikiloderma and progressive cutaneous atrophy since childhood. He had a tendency of trauma-induced blisters with clear or hemorrhagic contents that healed with scarring. The fingers were sclerodermiform with dystrophic nails and inability to completely clench the fist. Airway examination revealed thyromental distance of 7 cm with limited neck extension, limited mouth opening and mallampatti class III with a fixed large tongue. He was reported as grade IV Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopic on previous anesthesia exposure. We described the anesthetic management of such case on guidelines for epidermolysis bullosa. In the operating room, an 18-G cannula was secured in the right upper limb using Coban(™) Wrap. The T-piece of the cannula was than inserted into the slit and the tape was wrapped around the extremity. The ECG electrodes were placed on the limbs and fixed with Coban(™). Noninvasive blood pressure cuff was applied over the wrap after wrapping the arm with Webril(®) cotton. Oral fiberoptic tracheal intubation was done after lubricating the laryngoscope generously with a water-based lubricant with 7-mm endotracheal tube. Surgery proceeded without any complication. After reversing the residual neuromuscular block, trachea was extubated once the patient became awake. He was kept in the postanesthesia care unit for 2 hours and then shifted to urology ward.
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