[Anesthesia in a case of hereditary angioneurotic edema]

The case of a 51 year old woman diagnosed with hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) requiring hospital admission on one occasion is presented. The patient was scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy of uterine myomas. Upon presentation to the authors, the patient was not under treatment and was asymptomatic. The patient was given 1000 units of C1-INH two hours prior to surgery. The operation was performed under peridural anesthesia to which no complications were presented. Specific treatment included: short term prophylaxis prior to surgery with C1-INH or fresh plasma and/or antifibrinolytic and hormonal agents. The authors considered that the locoregional techniques are elective to avoid tracheal intubation.