TYK326
Which of the following preoperative tests would be LEAST appropriate for a 14 year-old male with Duchenne muscular dystrophy undergoing posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis.
a) Echocardiography
b) Pulmonary function testing
c) Complete blood count and comprehensive electrolyte panel
d) Chest radiography
e) None of the above
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Answer
Answer e. The patient with neuromuscular scoliosis may warrant ALL of the above tests. These patients are at high risk for cardiac and pulmonary complications of their disease; in select cases organ dysfunction transiently worsens with surgery.
Notes
- This question originally printed in the Pediatric Anesthesiology Review Topics kindle book series, and appears courtesy of Naerthwyn Press, LLC.