Anesthetic management for ovarian cystectomy in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis undergoing general anesthesia / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Anti-N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a rare disease,recently described as autoimmune disorder of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis,which is related to the NMDA receptor antibodies and frequently develops in young women with ovarian teratoma.The disease is usually accompanied by symptoms of psychosis and abnormal behaviors,autonomic nervous system dysfunction,central hypoventilation,and hyperthermia.During induction and maintenance of general anesthesia,we should be aware of adverse reactions such as cardiovascular events,hyperthermia and respiratory insufficiency.In order to maintain vital signs stable,pharmacological agents including vasopressors,β-blockers,antihypertensives,and anticholinergics should be prepared before the surgery.Invasive monitoring for blood pressure can be set if necessary.This study described the method for anesthetic management of 3 patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis undergoing resection of ovarian teratoma under general anesthesia.Preoperative treatment included antipsychotic,anti-infective and immune therapy.General anesthesia was induced with propofol,rocuronium,fentanyl and midazolam to facilitate tracheal intubation and was maintained with inhalation of sevoflurane (mixed with oxygen and air) and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl and rocuronium during the surgery.All the drugs mentioned above had no interaction or had slight indirect action on anti-NMDA receptors to avoid NMDA-related adverse reactions.In conclusion,the adequate preparation for the surgery should be done in this kind of patients,we should avoid using anesthetics having NMDA receptor antagonism (such as ketamine,N2O,methadone,dextromethorphan,phencyclidine) or other anesthetics acting indirectly (such as pentobarbital) on the NMDA receptors during anesthetic management in the patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.