Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Gilbert's Syndrome for Spine Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Gilbert's syndrome, a hereditary disorder characterized by mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, poses multiple anesthetic challenges during major surgery. Despite an indolent course, it can manifest with severe jaundice in the postoperative period. Anesthetic strategies should be based on thorough preoperative planning, minimizing fasting period, maintaining hepatic blood flow, avoiding hepatotoxic drugs, and reducing surgical duration, blood loss, and blood transfusion. We report the successful management of a case of Gilbert's syndrome for lumbar spine surgery along with a review of literature.

Keywords

• anesthesia
• gilbert's syndrome
• hyperbilirubinemia
• spine surgery