Anesthetic management of a patient with bicuspid aortic valve and Hashimoto's thyroiditis posted for abdominal hysterectomy.

Abstract

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common birth defect affecting the heart and is present in 1‑2% of the population. The abnormal valve structure leads to turbulent flow, fibrosis, calcification, and aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis increases perioperative morbidity and mortality. Anesthetic techniques that reduce systemic vascular resistance (regional neuraxial techniques) must be used with extreme caution. Hashimoto’s disease or chronic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in adults. Regional anesthesia is preferred in patients with hypothyroidism as recovery from general anesthesia may be delayed by hypothermia, respiratory depression, or slow drug biotransformation. This is a case report of anesthetic management of a middle‑aged female with co‑existing aortic stenosis, hypothyroidism, and fibroid uterus posted for abdominal hysterectomy.