Korean Journal of Anesthesiology (Jul 2010)

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome as a cause of persistent neuromuscular weakness after a mediastinoscopic biopsy -A case report-

  • Cheol Jin Lee,
  • Se Hun Lim,
  • Chee Mahn Shin,
  • Young Jae Kim,
  • Young Kyun Choe,
  • Soon Ho Cheong,
  • Kun Moo Lee,
  • Jeong Han Lee,
  • Young Hwan Kim,
  • Kwang Rae Cho,
  • Sang Eun Lee,
  • Jong Suk Bae

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.59.1.45
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 59, no. 1
pp. 45 – 48

Abstract

Read online

There are many causes of prolonged postoperative muscle weakness, including drugs, residual anesthetics, cerebrovascular events, electrolyte imbalance, hypothermia, and neuromuscular disease. Neuromuscular diseases are relatively rare, with the most common being myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). We report an unusual case in which a patient who was given a muscle relaxant during mediastinoscopy developed postoperative muscle weakness that was ultimately diagnosed as secondary to LEMS.

Keywords