Chromosome 5p deletion syndrome (5p-syndrome) is an inheritable disease involving mental retardation, malformations of the larynx, muscle weakness and scoliosis, and some cranio-facial features (morphological microretrognathia, low-set ears, premature hair graying, etc.). Airway management for patients with 5p-syndrome can be problematic, including technical difficulties with intubation. The monitoring of neuromuscular blockade would be preferable, since 5p-syndrome can present with muscle weakness.
Here, we present a rare case report of 5p-syndrome in a 24-year-old male who exhibited breathing difficulty during a mandibular third molar extraction. The patient had been scheduled to receive treatment under intravenous anesthesia (IVA). However, a worsening of his respiratory condition led us to change the anesthetic management from IVA to general anesthesia using a laryngeal mask airway under spontaneous breathing.
This case illustrates the importance of securing a respiratory tract when managing 5p-syndrome patients, especially those receiving dental treatment requiring irrigation.
