title: Quadriplegia in a child following adenotonsillectomy.
abstract: Neurological deterioration in a child following routine surgery, although rare, has potentially life threatening consequences. We report the case of a child who, following adentonsillectomy, developed quadriplegia and acute respiratory distress due to previously undetected atlanto-axial instability. Patients with atlanto-axial instability often have mild or non-specific symptoms, despite severe cervical cord compression. Subtle manifestations may be ignored or attributed to other disease processes, which render patients with undiagnosed atlanto-axial instability at risk of serious neurological injury during general anaesthesia, particularly at the time of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
authors: Department of Anaesthesia, G.B.Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Agarwal
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Tandon
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Singh
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ganjoo
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*