Prolonged Neuromuscular Block Due to Drug-Drug Interaction in a Post-Chemotherapy Patient Posted for Septoplasty: A Case Report

1Chashamjotbawa, Amandeepsingh, Laveenadabla

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Abstract:

Introduction- It is not uncommon to encounter cancer patients who have been subjected to chemotherapy being planned for non-oncological surgery. Chemotherapeutic drugs stimulate a cascade of catastrophic events leading to apoptosis via drug-receptor interaction. We are presenting a case-report on one such side-effect missed on the pre-operative assessment that lead to prolonged recovery phase in a patient posted for septoplasty under general anaesthesia. Case Report- 62 year old female planned for septoplasty had been on chemotherapeutic treatment for unilateral cancer breast stage 2. Drugs related toxicities were ruled out and general anesthesia was planned. Pre-medication in the form of injection glycopyrrolate 0.005mg/kg and fentanyl 1 microgram/kg, Induction by injection propofol (total 90mg) and succinylcholine 1.5mg/kg. After securing ETT, maintenance was achieved with isoflurane, N20:O2 (50:50) with vecuronium used as NDMR. Post cessation of surgery which lasted for 1 hour 40 minutes, inhalational gases were stopped but the patient remained deeply sedated, hypotonic despite reversal with neostigmine for 45 minutes. Thereafter, her eye opening returned but her tachypnoea persisted, so she was bridged to BiPAP mode in ICU till she regained muscle tone and distress subsided which took around 2 hours. This delayed muscular recovery was thought to be due to cyclophosphamide induced pseudocholinesterase inhibition which caused the action of succinylcholine to be prolonged. Conclusion- Chemotherapeutic agents and their drug-drug interactions must be kept in mind while formulating plan of anesthesia for cancer patients undergoing surgery for general indications.

Keywords:

chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide induced pseudocholinesterase deficiency, succinylcholine, delayed recovery, drug-drug interactions

Paper Details
Month2
Year2020
Volume24
IssueIssue 2
Pages1519-1526