HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Fatal peri-operative acute tumour lysis syndrome precipitated by dexamethasone.

Abstract
A 3-year-old patient presented for elective adenotonsillectomy to treat symptomatic obstructive sleep apnoea. The patient had not been assessed at a pre-operative anaesthesia clinic but had undergone uneventful general anaesthesia twice in the previous two years. An uneventful operative course was complicated by the development of clinical instability over the first 6 h postoperatively culminating in cardiorespiratory arrest. Subsequent investigation demonstrated the acute development of tumour lysis syndrome in the setting of a new onset, undiagnosed acute leukaemia. The patient died on the third postoperative day. The use of dexamethasone for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting was the likely aetiology of the acute tumour lysis syndrome in this case. This is the first documented peri-operative death due to tumour lysis syndrome after administration of dexamethasone. We discuss the various problems encountered with this case and review the recent literature and case reports on tumour lysis syndrome in the operating theatre.
AuthorsC McDonnell, R Barlow, P Campisi, R Grant, D Malkin
JournalAnaesthesia (Anaesthesia) Vol. 63 Issue 6 Pg. 652-5 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1365-2044 [Electronic] England
PMID18477278 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Antiemetics
  • Dexamethasone
Topics
  • Antiemetics (adverse effects)
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dexamethasone (adverse effects)
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (prevention & control)
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (complications)
  • Tumor Lysis Syndrome (etiology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: