Perioperative management of neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (neurofibromatosis-1), a relatively common single-gene disorder, is caused by a mutation of the NF1 gene that results in a loss of activity or in a nonfunctional neurofibromin protein. Clinical anesthesiologists may find patients with neurofibromatosis-1 challenging because this condition may affect most organ systems and result in a wide variety of presentations and clinical implications. Current neurofibromatosis-1 research studies include genotype-phenotype correlations, investigation of the pathoetiology behind the different clinical manifestations of neurofibromatosis-1, and the search for treatment options for the different features of the disorder. Neurofibromatosis-1-associated complications of the central nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems all present various degrees of considerations for anesthesiologists. Additionally, neurofibromatosis-1 has dramatic implications for pregnant women.