Ketamine anesthesia in dermolytic bullous dermatosis (epidermolysis bullosa)

An unusual hereditary disease entity of the integument, dermolytic bullous dermatosis (epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica), recessive type, is presented. The disease is characterized by the formation of bullae, vesicles, and erosions upon the application of the least trauma. Healing results in scarring and incapacitating deformities which require extensive reconstructive surgery. A technic utilizing ketamine-diazepam "dissociative anesthesia" for several surgical procedures for this condition is described. The technic enabled the patient to undergo 3 complex operations over a 2-year period with minimum complications.