Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/11/2008

Question
I am scheduled to have lumbar disc surgery on Monday 9/15, and when I had a tubal ligation in 1994 (the only surgery I have had), I had a problem when waking from the anesthesia.  I found that my breathing was paralyzed, I could not breathe in or out, and finally, as I obviously thrashed in the bed, the nurses came running and I passed out.  I am not sure what they did after this incident, however I remember someone saying they may have given me reverse drugs, etc.  The next thing I remembered was the anesthesiologist commanding me to breathe into an oxygen mask.  I was finally able to draw a breath with difficulty.  I was wondering two things:  first, could I be allergic to a type of anesthetic, or, as my parents were both immigrants from Europe, England and Italy, could I have a pseudocholinesterase deficiency?  What are the symptoms of pseudocholinesterase deficiency?  I would really appreciate anything you can tell me before my surger.  PS:  I am an RN

Answer
Not having seen your chart it would be hard for me to answer. If you got succinylcholine only and you did notrecover twitches in a few minutes then you could have it. More likely you woke up before full reversal and were partially paralyzed. I would get a copy of the record (or ask the anesthesiologist what they gave you)and then you will know for sure.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston