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Minerva Anestesiologica 1998 November;64(11):535-9

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Anaesthesia with propofol and atracurium in a case of porphyria cutanea tarda

Baratto F., Meggiolaro M.

Università degli Studi - Padova, Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione

The conduction of anaesthesia in a patient with a diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda is described. The aim of this paper is to provide further evidence for safety of TIVA (Total Intra Venous Anaesthesia) paying particular attention to propofol and atracurium (there are not sufficient data about it in the literature) in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda and high levels of uroporphyrin. The study of the anaesthetic management of a patient suffering from Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, can offer useful indications. Due to the fact that PCT is less severe than the acute forms, there is less risk for the patient under anaesthesia. In this particular case preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative urinary porphyrin are compared and furthermore, the liver function and the eventual development of skin lesions are monitored. A not significant increase of urinary porphyrin levels after surgery, no skin lesions and no modifications of liver function have been observed. TIVA proved to be safe in this case of PCT.