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Anesthetic implications of a pediatric patient with stiff skin syndrome: A case report
Edgar E Kiss1,2, Gijo Alex1,2, Neethu Chandran1,2
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA.
Insights
Stiff skin syndrome presents unique anesthetic challenges in pediatric patients due to inflexible skin and limited joint mobility. Careful planning is crucial for safe intubation, ventilation, and positioning during surgery.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Stiff skin syndrome (SSS) is a rare genetic disorder presenting in infancy or early childhood.
- Characterized by generalized skin ossification, leading to significant joint mobility limitations.
- These physical limitations pose considerable challenges for anesthetic management.
Abstract:
Stiff skin syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is present in infancy or early childhood. It is characterized by hard, inflexible skin and limited joint mobility making anesthetic management of these patients challenging. Their limited neck flexibility and chest wall rigidity make intubation and mask ventilation difficult. Intraoperative positioning can be challenging due to joint contractures and potential entrapment peripheral neuropathy. Even though peripheral intravenous access can be relatively easy, central venous cannulation may be problematic due to the hard skin overlying the entry sites. Our case report details the anesthetic management and considerations of a pediatric patient with stiff skin syndrome.
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