Guillain-Barré syndrome in a patient with pancreatic cancer after an epidural-general anesthetic.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare occurrence in medicine and is probably rarer still as a postoperative complication. We report an uneventful operative course, during epidural-general anesthesia, in a patient undergoing pancreatectomy who presented with acute paralysis mimicking an acute cervical spinal cord syndrome or brachial plexus neuropathy. The signs and symptoms of right upper extremity paralysis occurred within 2 h postoperatively. Immediate work-up, which included magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity studies, provided the diagnosis.
Bamberger
Philip D
PD
Department of Clinical Anesthesiology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York.
Thys
Daniel M
DM
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D004576:Electromyography; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*