Epiretinal Membrane Surgery for a Patient with Dyskinesia Related to Parkinson’s Disease Using Intravenous Dexmedetomidine Administration

Abstract

General anesthesia is usually selected when patients cannot remain still during surgery with local anesthesia. However, damage to the lungs from positive pressure ventilation under general anesthesia is a major concern in patients with Parkinson’s disease. We report a case in which dyskinesia related to Parkinson’s disease was attenuated by intravenous dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration, following which epiretinal membrane (ERM) and inner limited membrane peeling could be smoothly performed. A 68-year-old woman with systemic dyskinesia related to Parkinson’s disease underwent cataract surgery for her right eye with local anesthesia (topical anesthesia with 4% lidocaine and sub-Tenon’s anesthesia with 2% lidocaine and 30% nitrous oxide inhalation). During the surgery, continuous involuntary facial movement related to Parkinson’s disease remained uncontrollable. One week later, she underwent cataract surgery and pars plana vitrectomy for the ERM of her left eye. In addition to local anesthesia (topical anesthesia with 4% lidocaine and retrobulbar anesthesia with 2% lidocaine and 30% nitrous oxide inhalation), the patient received intravenous DEX, which halted movement from the beginning of surgery until the end. Therefore, ERM surgery was performed without the influence of dyskinesia. This case highlights that intravenous DEX administration can inhibit dyskinesia related to Parkinson’s disease during ERM surgery, which is among the most delicate microscopic procedures performed in ophthalmological settings. Additional studies are required to examine the actual effectiveness of DEX administration in patients with Parkinson’s disease-related dyskinesia undergoing ophthalmological procedures.