Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Management of Difficult Airway and Concurrent Bronchospasm

Abstract

Using succinylcholine and inhalation agents for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is extremely risky. Those risks include heart failure, cardiac dysrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis and malignant hyperthermia. Even in emergent situations, such as intraoperative bronchospasm, succinylcholine and inhalational agents are often considered contraindicated. Nevertheless, if intraoperative bronchospasm does occur in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the benefits of using inhalational agents to treat bronchospasm may outweigh the risks in certain situations.