Yeungnam Univ J Med.  1988 Dec;5(2):213-219. 10.12701/yujm.1988.5.2.213.

A Case of Convulsive Seizure Following Spinal Anesthesia in a Geriatric Patient with COPD

• Suh IS

• KMID: 2376256
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.1988.5.2.213

Abstract

In the geriatric patient with COPD, incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication is higher than young patient. Therefore, some anesthesiologists preferred spinal anesthesia to general anesthesia for surgery of the perineum, lower extrimities, and pelvic extraperitoneal organs. But, during spinal anesthesia, the same careful observation in required as during general anesthesia. We experienced a case of the convulsive seizure at about 1 hour after spinal anesthesia for open prostatectomy in a 76-year-old male patient with COPD. It was suspected that his convulsive seizure be resulted from hypercapnea combined with hypoxia following upper airway obstruction. This patient was treated successfully by ultrashort acting barbiturate and controlled ventilation.

MeSH Terms

Aged
Airway Obstruction
Anesthesia, General
Anesthesia, Spinal*
Anoxia
Humans
Incidence
Male
Perineum
Prostatectomy
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive*
Seizures*
Ventilation