Anesthetic management of toxic epidermal necrolysis: a report of two cases

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), is an acute, life-threatening emergent disease involving the skin and mucous membranes with serious systemic complications. It is characterized by widespread epidermal sloughing. Drugs are the most common triggers of TEN, but infection, vaccination, radiation therapy and malignant neoplasms can all induce it in susceptible patients. We report two cases in whom a hair dye and a COVID-19 vaccine (BioNTech®, Pfizer) were believed to be the causative agents. These patients have to undergo repeated debridements of the necrotic tissue. In this manuscript the anesthetic management of TEN patients is discussed. Detailed preoperative evaluation, aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement, avoidance of hypothermia during debridement, minimizing anesthetic agents and limiting traumatic procedures are key points in the management. Abbreviations: BUN: blood urea nitrogen; BSA: Body surface area; Cr: Creatinine; OR: Operating room; SJS: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; TEN: Toxic epidermal necrolysis Key words: Anesthesia; COVID-19; Toxic epidermal necrolysis; Vaccine Citation: Bilge B, Erkilic E, İlhan G, Akin M, Kanbak O. Anesthetic management of toxic epidermal necrolysis: a report of two cases. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;27(1):135−138; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i1.2113 Received: November 22, 2022; Reviewed: November 29, 2022; Accepted: December 02, 2022