Patient with hereditary butyrylcholinesterase deficiency

Abstract

Introduction: During the surgical anesthetic act, there are many complications that the anesthesiologist must face, some derived from surgery and others from anesthesia. Butyrylcholinesterase deficiency is a metabolic disorder that can prolong anesthetic recovery time, and is mandatory making the right decision to avoid putting in danger patient's life. Objectives: To describe the evolution of a patient with a hereditary butyrylcholinesterase deficiency. Clinical case: A 46-year-old female patient with a history of apparent health, operated electively by mean of minimally invasive surgery for gallstones, using general anesthesia. During the trans operative there were not complications; after operation was completed the patient shows no signs of recovery, actions were taken to revert the condition, but the expected response is not obtained. The situations lasted for 3 hours; a laboratory test was done searching for butyrylcholinesterase deficiency, which was positive. Conclusions: It should be kept in mind that after the administration of succinylcholine a prolonged neuromuscular blockade can occur, even in apparently healthy patients.

Keywords

• deficiencia de butirilcolinesterasa
• bloqueo neuromuscular prolongado
• apnea prolongada.