A case of gastric cancer with myotonic dystrophy

Abstract

A 61-year-old man who had been treated for myotonic dystrophy (MD), was found on screening endoscopy to have a type IIb early gastric cancer in the posterior wall of the middle stomach. Respiratory function tests showed restrictive ventilatory impairment, and electrocardiography showed first-degree atrioventrioular block. Distal gastrectomy was performed. Anesthesia was maintained with intravenous anesthetic, and a muscular relaxant was used only during the induction of anesthesia. After the operation, the patient's progress was complicated by the development of pulmonary atelectasis ; the patient required a ventilator. The patient was weaned from ventilatory support on postoperative day 5 and was discharged on postoperative day 17. We present a rare case with MD and concomitant gastric cancer requiring surgery under general anesthesia.