Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, degenerative motor neuron disease with an unknown cause. An impairment in the respiratory function and weakened upper airway muscles may affect the anesthetic management. The response to muscle rel...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, degenerative motor neuron disease with an unknown cause. An impairment in the respiratory function and weakened upper airway muscles may affect the anesthetic management. The response to muscle relaxants, either depolarizing or nondepolarizing, is also altered in ALS patients. Therefore patients with ALS require special care throughout the perioperative period. We report a case of ALS in which general anesthesia was successfully used for a tracheostomy. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2006; 51: S 18~9)