Perioperative Management of a Patient with Severe Parkinson's Disease with Intravenous Levodopa Administration

Terashima, S.; Yanagido, Y.; Watabe, A.; Yamane, M.; Morimoto, Y.

Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 64(8): 845-848

2015


ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892
PMID: 26442421
Document Number: 685557
A 70-year-old man with severe Parkinson's disease was scheduled for thoracic aortic aneurysm resection and aortic valve replacement. We administered levodopa intravenously during the perioperative period to avoid the malignant syndrome which is reported to arise with abrupt cessation of anti-Parkinson's drugs. The dose of intravenous administration was tapered with the resumption of oral intake. No manifestation of malignant syndrome was observed. We measured blood concentrations of levodopa several times during the perioperative period. The concentration of levodopa during the surgery was relatively high; however no adverse events of overdose (e.g. dyskinesis) occurred. In the postoperative period, administration of levodopa was changed to the oral route and serum levels of levodopa showed a notable decrease, the cause of which may be poor absorption through the digestive system during the perioperative period. Therefore, in the peri- and post-operative periods, it is necessary to take great care when reducing the infusion dose.

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