Successful use of femoral nerve block with dexmedetomidine for fracture fixation of an intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck in a patient with severe aortic stenosis: a case report

Abstract

We described a case in which femoral nerve block (FNB) and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (LFCNB) with dexmedetomidine (DEX) was useful for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of a femoral neck fracture in a patient with severe aortic stenosis. Cardiac surgery had been recommended but was declined by the patient. Thus, ORIF was selected because of the patient’s concomitant severe aortic stenosis. The anesthesia method used was FNB plus LFCNB with DEX, which achieved adequate local anesthesia. DEX was used to avoid respiratory depression because this patient has pulmonary hypertension. This patient had been sedative up to the end of surgery. Total operating time was 51 min, and the patient’s hemodynamics were stable throughout the perioperative period. There were no complications. In this case, anesthesia using a nerve block with DEX contributed to the safety of noncardiac surgery in a patient with severe cardiac disease under conservative treatment during the perioperative period.