Management of a patient with hereditary angioneurotic edema

Patients with a history of hereditary angioneurotic edema can adequate and safely have nonelective surgical procedures performed with proper preoperative and postoperative management. Deficient amounts of C1 esterase inhibitor can be replaced with fresh frozen plasma; capillary permeability and spreading edema can be prevented with antifibrinolytic agents such as Amicar. Once edema has occurred peripherally and no laryngeal symptoms are present, conservative treatment is advisable. When epiglottic and laryngeal edema occurs, intubation or tracheostomy is preferred for maintenance of airway until the edema subsides. During oral surgical procedures, minimal surgical trauma must be achieved. Edema that involves the airway presents the greatest danger to patients. These attacks are usually associated with dental or some sort of oral or pharyngeal manipulation.