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Awake laminotomy and discectomy using dexmedetomidine
as anesthetic.
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| Abstract: |
Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed
in the United States for patients having back and leg symptoms. The vast
majority of the procedures are elective and are performed under general
anesthesia. This is a reported case of a 40 year old woman with
worsening symptoms of LS-Sl disc herniation unresponsive to conventional
therapies. The use of Dexmedetomidine was discussed with the patient,
explaining the advantage of motor and sensory testing during the surgery
and immediate patient feedback. Awake laminotomy and discectomy could be
performed as an ambulatory procedure, since the use of Dexmedetomidine
as the main anesthetic represents a safe and convenient alternative to
general anesthesia in this patient with lumbar disc herniation. Key words: Dexmedetomidine, Alpha2-agonists, Discectomy, Laminectomy, Ambulatory La disectomia lumbar es el procedimiento quirurgico mas frecuente en Estados Unidos para pacientes con sintomas de espalda y piernas. La gran mayoria de estos procedimientos son electivos y se realizan bajo anestesia general. Este es el caso de una mujer de 40 anos de edad con empeoramiento de los sintomas de herniacion del disco de LS-S1, que no responde con tratamiento convencional. El uso de Dexmedetomidina fue discutido con la paciente, explicandole la ventaja de poder realizar monitoreo sensorial y motor durante la cirugia asi como de ofrecer retroalimentacion inmediatamente. Las laminectomias y discectomias con el paciente despierto pudieran realizarse de forma ambulatoria ya que el uso de Dexmedetomidina representa una alternativa segura y conveniente al uso de anestesia general en estos pacientes. |
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| Article Type: | Perspectiva general de la enfermedad/trastorno |
| Subject: |
Enfermedades de la espina dorsal
(Investigacion cientifica) Enfermedades de la espina dorsal (Analisis de casos) Enfermedades de la espina dorsal (Cuidado y tratamiento) |
| Authors: |
Torres, Hector M. Lopez, Serafin C. |
| Pub Date: | 12/01/2009 |
| Publication: | Name: Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal Publisher: Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Medicas Language: Spanish Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Medicas ISSN: 0738-0658 |
| Issue: | Date: Dec, 2009 Source Volume: 28 Source Issue: 4 |
| Geographic: | Geographic Name: Puerto Rico |
| Accession Number: | 212102676 |
| Full Text: |
Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed
in the United States for patients having back and leg symptoms; the vast
majority of the procedures are elective and are performed under general
anesthesia (1). Case Report This is a case report of a 40 year-old woman with worsening symptoms of LS-S 1 disc herniation unresponsive to conventional therapies. Patient was scheduled for awake laminotomy and discectomy of affected disc. The use of Dexmedetomidine was discussed with the patient, explaining the advantages of motor and sensory testing during the surgery and immediate patient feedback. Dexmedetomidine infusion was started at 0.8 mcg/kg/ hr. Patient was placed in the prone position. Forty-five minutes after the infusion had begun a right paramedian incision was done. During the laminotomy, the infusion of Dexmedetomidine was increased to 1 mcg/kg/hr. Before closing the lamina, the rate of the infusion was decreased to 0.5 mcg/kg/hr. At the end of the surgery, the infusion of Dexmedetomidine was discontinued, after having lasted exactly two hours. Motor testing of lower extremities was performed during, and at the end of the surgery, and the patient was awake and able to walk, giving us immediate feedback that she was relieved of pain. She also reported being comfortable during the procedure. Then, the patient placed herself on the stretcher with minimal assistance, and was taken to the post anesthesia care unit with stable vital signs. After 48 hours in the ward, the patient was discharged with normal muscle strength and no neurological deficits. Discussion Due to the prone position required for the surgical procedure, airway patency and respiratory depression were a concern. We were able to keep a patent airway, by carefully titrating the anesthetic to an adequate level without causing excessive sedation. Dexmedetomidine also has minimal ventilatory effects because one of its sites of action is the locus ceruleus, which is known to play a role in both respiratory control and sleep modulation; and because Dexmedetomidine converges on the natural sleep pathway to exert its sedative effects, whereas natural sleep does result in ventilation modulation (5). Dexmedetomidine, has been associated with hemodynamic adverse effects such as bradycardia and hypotension (4). An initial hypertensive response usually occurs when using high doses given at a fast rate, secondary to stimulation of the peripheral alpha2-receptors (4). However, the patient's blood pressure and heart rate remained stable during the procedure, and the initial hypertensive response did not occur. Lumbar disc herniations from intervertebral disc degeneration are common in elders (6), who also might have other co-morbidities. Therefore awake procedures would offer more benefits and fewer complications related to general anesthesia in this population. This patient could be discharged in 24 hrs or less. A shorter hospital stay would represent a savings both to the patient and the hospital. Conclusions Awake laminotomy and discectomy could be performed as an ambulatory procedure, since the use of Dexmedetomidine as main anesthetic represented a safe and convenient alternative to general anesthesia in this patient with lumbar disc herniation. References (1.) Weinstein JN, Tosteson TD, Lurie JD, Tosteson AN, Hanscom B, Skinner JS, Abdu WA, Hilibrand AS, Boden SD, Deyo RA. Surgical vs Nonoperative Treatment for Lumbar Disk Herniation: The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT): A Randomized Trial. JAMA 2006;296:2441-2450. (2.) Stoelting RK, Miller RD. Basics of anesthesia, 5th edition. Philadelphia, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2007: pp. 109-110. (3.) Petroz GC, Sikich N, James M, Van DH, Shafer SL, Schily M, Lerman J. A Phase I, Two-center Study of the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Dexmedetomidine in Children. Anesthesiology 2006;105:1098-1110. (4.) Abdelmalak B, Makary L, Hoban J, Doyle DJ. Dexmedetomidine as sole sedative for awake intubation in management of the critical airway. J Clin Anesth 2007;19:370-373. (5.) Hsu YW, Cortinez LI, Robertson KM, Keifer JC, Sum-Ping ST, Moretti EW, Young CC, Wright DR, MacLeod DB, Somma J. Dexmedetomidine Pharmacodynamics: Part I: Crossover Comparison of the Respiratory Effects of Dexmedetomidine and Remifentanil in Healthy Volunteers. Anesthesiology 2004;101:1066-1076. (6.) Humphreys SC, Eck JC. Clinical Evaluation and Treatment Options for Herniated Lumbar Disc. Am Fam Physician 1999; 59:575-582, 587-588. HECTOR M. TORRES, MD *; SERAFIN C. LOPEZ, MD ([dagger]) * Associate Professor, ([dagger]) Resident in Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose. Address correspondence to: Hector M. Tomes, MD, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Dept. of Anesthesiology, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067. Tel: (787) 758-0640 ** Email: alexj484@onelinkpr.net |
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