Harlequin Syndrome After Thoracic Paravertebral Block

Harlequin Syndrome Related to Perioperative Intercostal Blockade: A Case Report

Harlequin syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by hemifacial flushing and altered facial sweating, with only a few case reports related to intercostal blockades. We present a case of Harlequin syndrome in a 65-year-old woman after intercostal blockade for video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. One hour postoperatively, the patient became nauseated and presented with flushing of the right half of the face with a clear line of demarcation. Within 3 hours, the flushing disappeared. In this case report, we discuss Harlequin syndrome in relation to intercostal blockade and encourage clinicians to consider this syndrome in the differential diagnosis when encountering similar symptoms.

Harlequin Syndrome Following Regional Liposomal Bupivacaine Use in a Partial Sternectomy

Harlequin syndrome is a condition in which disruption of the autonomic nervous system results in ipsilateral anhidrosis and pallor of the face. We report the first documented case of Harlequin syndrome following the use of liposomal bupivacaine, in which a patient developed symptoms five hours after a bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) block with liposomal bupivacaine before partial sternectomy. It is additionally unique as the first report of delayed onset of symptoms. The proposed mechanism is the diffusion of the anesthetic into the paravertebral space with cephalad migration to the T2-T3 level, where facial vasomotor fibers exit the spinal cord.

Detection of subclinical Harlequin syndrome in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Harlequin syndrome presents as differences in facial coloring due to unilateral flushing. This is the result of the inability to flush on the affected side due to the disruption of vasomotor and sudomotor sympathetic activity. The neurologically intact side appears flushed. A 2°C temperature difference between the flushed and nonflushed sides of the face has been detected in patients presenting with Harlequin syndrome. This difference in temperature might be detectable even in the absence of unilateral flushing, and this subclinical manifestation of the syndrome may occur more often than realized.

AIM

To measure and compare the difference in the change in temperature on both sides of the face in patients with a thoracic epidural.

METHODS

Fifteen pediatric patients receiving thoracic epidurals for the correction of pectus excavatum via Nuss procedure were enrolled. Temperature measurements on each side of the face were collected at three time points: prior to epidural placement in the holding area, one hour after epidural analgesia had been instituted, and after the patient awakened in the recovery area. The primary outcome is whether or not a temperature difference occurred between the two sides of the face over time.

RESULTS

Comparing the pre-op temperature change to post-op temperature change for each side of the face, patient 2 had a large increase in temperature on the left side of the face with a decrease in temperature on the right side of the face. The largest observed difference between the changes in temperature from pre-op to post-op between the right and left sides of the face was 1.85°C in patient 2. This was more than two standard deviations from the mean difference in the patient population. Patient 15 also had a large difference in change in temperature from pre-op to post-op between the right and left sides of the face with an observed difference of 1.14°C, although this was not more than two standard deviations from the mean. None of the patients had unilateral facial flushing.

CONCLUSION

Asymmetric effects or distribution of local anesthetic used in thoracic epidurals may result in asymmetric blockade of efferent sympathetic nervous system activity. This may cause differences in temperature between the two sides of the face without unilateral flushing. This phenomenon has previously been termed subclinical Harlequin syndrome. Subclinical Harlequin syndrome may be more common than anticipated and may be detected by comparing temperature differences in patients.

Postoperative Harlequin Syndrome: Case Report of a Rare but Clinically Striking Condition

We present a case of a 2-year-old boy who underwent thoracoscopic resection of a left paraspinal mediastinal mass and developed Harlequin syndrome postoperatively. Harlequin syndrome is a rare neurological condition characterized by unilateral hyperhidrosis and erythema of the head and neck. Our discussion highlights this condition and other differential diagnoses that may present similarly in the postoperative period.

Development of Harlequin Syndrome following placement of thoracic epidural anesthesia in a pediatric patient undergoing Nuss procedure

We report the development of Harlequin Syndrome following thoracic epidural placement in a pediatric patient. Unilateral facial flushing with contralateral pallor and anhidrosis is the clinical presentation. This syndrome is typically benign. When related to regional anesthesia, treatment involves reducing the local anesthetic infusion or stopping it altogether.