Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery on a Patient With Stiff Person Syndrome

Abstract

STIFF PERSON SYNDROME is a rare and incapacitating illness, characterized by a pronounced involuntary stiffness of the axial muscles and the extremities, which was described in 1956 by Moersch and Woltman. 1 Moersch F.P. Woltman H.W. Progressive fluctuating muscular rigidity and spasm (stiff-man syndrome) Report of a case and some observations in 13 other cases. Mayo Clin Proc. 1956; 31: 421-427 PubMed Google Scholar The principal electrophysiological and clinical signs are caused by continuous and simultaneous contraction of agonists and opposing muscles caused by involuntary activation of the motor unit.