Anaesthetic management of a patient with myotonic dystrophy

A 13-year-old boy with myotonic dystrophy underwent insertion of a percutan eous gastrostomy feeding tube under general anaesthesia. We used a laryngea l mask airway and a spontaneously breathing technique with propofol total i ntravenous anaesthesia. Postoperative vomiting and aspiration, 12 h after t he procedure, subsequently required intubation and ventilation. We discuss the anaesthetic management of this case and review the features of the dise ase to be considered when contemplating anaesthesia in such patients.