Total intravenous anesthesia for thymectomy in a Myasthenia Gravis patient: case report

Gabrielle Rezer, Airton Bagatini, Cláudio Roberto Gomes, Monia Di Lara Dias

Patients with neuromuscular diseases, as Myasthenia Gravis, react abnormally to anesthetics, depending on the technique and on the drugs. This report aimed at showing a case of Myasthenia Gravis patient submitted to thymectomy under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. Female Myasthenia Gravis patient, 52 years old, 72 kg, submitted to transternal thymectomy, under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol in target controlled infusion (3 microg.ml-1) and continuous remifentanil (0.3 microg.kg-1.min-1). Succinylcholine (50 mg) was used for tracheal intubation, which was achieved without difficulty. Tramadol (50 mg), ketoprofen (100 mg) and dipirone (1 g) were used for postoperative analgesia. Propofol and remifentanil were withdrawn at surgery completion and patient was extubated 15 minutes after. Patient was eupneic, awaken, without pain, moving limbs, with respiratory frequency of 14 mpm and 97% oxygen saturation. Patient remained in the Intermediate Care Unit for 36 hours, with a nasal catheter of 2 L.min-1 O2 and was discharged in the 4th postoperative day. Total intravenous anesthesia, with short-lasting anesthetics without active metabolites has favored recovery and early extubation of a Myasthenia Gravis patient submitted to thymectomy.