Anesthetic management in a case of xeroderma pigmentosum

Abstract

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, which is characterized by
hypersensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and progressive neurological complications.
Inhalational anesthetic agents are avoided due to the possibility of inducing DNA damage and minimum
use of muscle relaxants is done intraoperatively. These patients may have a potential difficult airway.
We report a 6 yrs old male child who was a known case of xeroderma pigmentosa scheduled for a
dental extraction under general anesthesia. The uneventful course of anesthesia in this case was due to a
thorough systemic evaluation and careful anesthetic plan.