Paraplegic Patient for Lower Limb Surgery: Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) as an Alternative Approach

Abstract

Patients with spinal cord injury 4–8 weeks back presenting for non-spinal elective surgery, present a unique challenge to the anesthesiologist. The perioperative concerns include potential for perioperative autonomic hypereflexia, muscle spasms, respiratory inadequacy, controversies regarding the use of muscle relaxants and opioids as well as medico-legal and technical issues associated with administration of regional anesthesia. Both general as well as regional anesthesia has been used for surgery on the insensate part below the level of injury with variable success but no standard definitive anesthetic management is recommended. We present our case series of monitored anesthesia care administration in paraplegic patients who presented for lower limb surgeries.

Keywords

• anesthesia
• monitored anesthesia care
• mac
• non-spinal surgery
• paraplegia