Anesthetic experience in a patient with Gorham's disease : A case report

Kim, Seong Su; Han, Sang Hee; Jung, Hwa Sung

Case Report

Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2009;4(1):27-31.
Published online January 30, 2009.

Anesthetic experience in a patient with Gorham's disease : A case report

Seong Su Kim, Sang Hee Han, Hwa Sung Jung

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea. drmarsjhs@naver.com

Abstract

Gorham's disease is a very rare non-familial disorder of uncertain etiology characterized by uncontrolled non-neoplastic proliferation of vascular or lymphatic channels within bone, leading to resorption and replacement of osseous matrix with angiomatous tissue. Spinal cord compression due to cervical spine osteolysis can lead to respiratory problems due to chylous pleural effusion or cardiac dysfunction due to chylous pericardial effusion, which can be life threatening and cause high morbidity and mortality. We present a 32-year-old female patient complicated by chylothorax who underwent general anesthesia for a bone biopsy.

Key Words: angiomatous tissue, chylothorax, effusion, Gorham's disease, osteolysis