title: Sevoflurane as a sole anaesthetic for thymectomy in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis is a challenging situation for anaesthesiologists due to its neuromuscular involvement. The main concerns are respiratory muscle weakness and side effects due to a heavy dose of anticholinesterases. This limits the use of sedatives, hypnotics and muscle relaxants. Inhalational anaesthetics are best suited. We describe our experience with sevoflurane as a sole anaesthetic in a child having juvenile-type myasthenia gravis with thymoma, who underwent thymectomy by midsternal incision. Very smooth and short duration of induction (35 s) and easy intubation within 60 s without use of muscle relaxant were the remarkable features. Sevoflurane in oxygen and nitrous oxide (MAC=0.5-0.7) was used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Recovery was smooth and fast with no residual respiratory insufficiency. Hence we found sevoflurane to be a highly suitable agent for thymectomy in mysthenia gravis.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cardiac Anaesthesia, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kapoor
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane