Perioperative considerations in the patient with Angelman syndrome

Association between early and current gastro-intestinal symptoms and co-morbidities in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome

BACKGROUND

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder that causes severe intellectual disability, expressive language deficits, motor impairment, ataxia, sleep problems, epileptic seizures and a happy disposition. People with AS frequently experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

METHOD

This study used data from the Global Angelman Syndrome Registry to explore the relationship between early and current GI symptoms and co-morbidity in children and adolescents with AS (n = 173). Two groups that experienced a high (n = 91) and a low (n = 82) frequency of GI symptoms were examined in relation to feeding and GI history in infancy, sleep and toileting problems, levels of language and communication and challenging behaviours. Predictors of GI symptoms were then investigated using a series of logistic regressions.

RESULTS

This analysis found that constipation and gastroesophageal reflux affected 84% and 64%, of the sample, respectively. The high frequency of GI symptoms were significantly associated with: 'refusal to nurse', 'vomiting', 'arching', 'difficulty gaining weight', gastroesophageal reflux, 'solid food transition', frequency of night-time urinary continence and sleep hyperhidrosis during infancy. GI symptoms were not significantly associated with sleep, toileting, language or challenging behaviours. Significant predictors of high frequency GI symptoms were gastroesophageal reflux and sleep hyperhidrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research needs to investigate the association between AS and GI co-morbidity in adults with AS.

Unmet clinical needs and burden in Angelman syndrome: a review of the literature

Background

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare disorder with a relatively well-defined phenotype. Despite this, very little is known regarding the unmet clinical needs and burden of this condition, especially with regard to some of the most prevalent clinical features—movement disorders, communication impairments, behavior, and sleep.

Main text

A targeted literature review using electronic medical databases (e.g., PubMed) was conducted to identify recent studies focused on specific areas of the AS phenotype (motor, communication, behavior, sleep) as well as epidemiology, diagnostic processes, treatment, and burden. 142 articles were reviewed and summarized. Findings suggest significant impairment across the life span in all areas of function. While some issues may resolve as individuals get older (e.g., hyperactivity), others become worse (e.g., movement disorders, aggression, anxiety). There are no treatments focused on the underlying etiology, and the symptom-based therapies currently prescribed do not have much, if any, empirical support.

Conclusions

The lack of standardized treatment protocols or approved therapies, combined with the severity of the condition, results in high unmet clinical needs in the areas of motor functioning, communication, behavior, and sleep for individuals with AS and their families.

Anesthetic Considerations for Angelman Syndrome: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Background

Angelman syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, severe speech impairment, ataxia, seizures, happy demeanor, distinctive craniofacial features, high vagal tone, and gamma-amino butyric acid receptor abnormalities. The aim of this report is to review our experience of patients with Angelman syndrome undergoing anesthetic management.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed perioperative course of patients with Angelman syndrome who underwent procedures under anesthesia from 2000 to 2016.

Results

Six patients with Angelman syndrome underwent 18 procedures; 14 performed under general anesthesia, and 4 with monitored anesthetic care, many for minor procedures (e.g., dental and diagnostic). Five patients had profound developmental delay and were nonverbal and 4 of them had epilepsy. The perioperative courses were uncomplicated except a 2 year-old girl having an intraoperative bronchospasm, a 16 year-old girl requiring flumazenil administration, and 28 year-old man who was electively intubated with a videolaryngoscope because of airway management concerns. No patients were documented as having postoperative pain.

Conclusions

Angelman syndrome patients often require anesthesia for relatively innocuous procedures, and their speech impairment and happy demeanor can confound postoperative pain assessment. Patients can have atypical responses to benzodiazepines. Craniofacial abnormalities can complicate airway management. Although not encountered in this series, anesthesiologists need to be aware that Angelman syndrome patients have developed malignant bradydysrhythmias while anesthetized.