Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia for Modified Radical Mastectomy - In Type2 Diabetes Mellitus Patient

Modified radical mastectomy (MRM), the standard oncologic surgical procedure of the carcinoma of breast is routinely performed under general anesthesia. Carcinoma breast patients are considered to be at high risk for anesthesia due to high possibility of perioperative complications and mortality when associated with long standing type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) with other co morbidities. Cardiac complications due to macro vascular and micro vascular involvement can pose a real threat. Here we present a case report of successful perioperative management of modified radical mastectomy only with thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) in a case of carcinoma breast with long standing type 2 DM and hypertension. A 71year old female, a known case of DM since 7years with co morbidity; hypertension having a carcinoma breast was scheduled for modified radical mastectomy. Continuous epidural anesthesia was administered at T4-5 level. Local anesthetic supplementation titrated as per the demands of surgery and good postoperative analgesia maintained for 48 hours. Long standing DM with hypertension can lead to perioperative morbidity and mortality due to cardiac complications. However, Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) reduces cardiac and sympathetic activity and thereby improves perioperative function of vital organs and reduces postoperative morbidity and mortality. The procedure can lead to prompt recovery with additional benefit of prolonged post-operative analgesia. TEA proved to be an excellent anesthetic