Motor neurone disease presenting as postoperative respiratory failure.
We present the case of a woman who developed respiratory failure in the postoperative period secondary to previously unsuspected motor neurone disease. This case highlights the difficulty in detecting subtle neuromuscular weakness during anaesthetic pre-assessment.
Walker
H C
HC
Wellington Public Hospital, Departments of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Neurology, Wellington, New Zealand.
Dinsdale
D
D
Abernethy
D A
DA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment