Considerations for surgery

There will be a variety of situations, both related to DMD (e.g. muscle biopsy, joint contracture surgery, spinal surgery, or gastrostomy) and unrelated (e.g. acute surgical events), where general anaesthesia may be needed. There are a number of condition-specific issues that need to be taken into account for the planning of safe surgery.

Surgery should be done in a hospital where personnel involved in the operation and after care are familiar with DMD and willing to work together to be sure everything goes smoothly. In addition, consideration needs to be given to “stress steroid” coverage during surgery, for people treated with steroids at home.

Information based on consensus statement (published in January 2010)