Esmolol in the anaesthetic management of a boy with Romano–Ward syndrome

Abstract

The Romano-Ward syndrome is a congenital form of long Q-T syndrome which frequently causes syncope, dysrhythmias and sudden death. Certain anaesthetic drugs can precipitate dangerous dysrhythmias. Chronic P-adrenergic blockade is the therapy of choice for symptomatic patients and establishment of complete and total P-blockade is recommended for symptomatic patients having anaesthesia and surgery. We report the successful use of esmolol to establish rapid and total P-blockade before a short elective out-patient procedure and suggest that esmolol may be useful for other patients with Romano-Ward syndrome having anaesthesia and surgery.