Korean J Anesthesiol.  2012 Nov;63(5):465-468. 10.4097/kjae.2012.63.5.465.

Anesthetic experience of a patient with relapsing polychondritis: A case report

• Kim IK
• Kim MS
• Choi YS
• Shin YS

• KMID: 1767218
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2012.63.5.465

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease characterized by progressive inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures such as ears, nose, and tracheolaryngeal structures. As a result, tracheolaryngeal involvement makes anesthetic management a challenge. Anesthetic management of a patient with relapsing polychondritis may encounter airway problems caused by severe tracheal stenosis. We present the case of a 60-year-old woman with relapsing polychondritis who underwent wedge resection of the stomach under epidural analgesia. Thoracic epidural blockade of the T4-10 dermatome was achieved by epidural injection of 7 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine and 50 microg of fentanyl. The patient was tolerable during the operation. We suggest that epidural analgesia may be an alternative to general anesthesia for patients with relapsing polychondritis undergoing upper abdominal surgery.

Keyword

Epidural analgesia; Relapsing polychondritis

MeSH Terms

Amides
Analgesia, Epidural
Anesthesia, General
Ear
Female
Fentanyl
Humans
Inflammation
Injections, Epidural
Middle Aged
Nose
Polychondritis, Relapsing
Rare Diseases
Stomach
Tracheal Stenosis
Amides
Fentanyl