Novel use of intraoperative dexmedetomidine infusion for sedation during spinal cord stimulator lead placement via surgical laminectomy.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulators are most often placed through a percutaneous approach using minimal sedation and local anesthesia to facilitate intraoperative testing. However, when leads need to be placed using a laminectomy incision additional anesthesia is required which can complicate intraoperative testing. There is no consensus as to the best anesthetic choice when laminectomy-placed leads are required. OBJECTIVE We present 2 cases where spinal cord stimulator leads were implanted through a surgical laminectomy under sedation using dexmedetomidine infusion and local anesthesia to provide a cooperative patient for intraoperative testing. CASE REPORT Patient #1: A 40-year-old female with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome secondary to an automobile accident who had good pain control with a spinal cord stimulator until a lead fracture resulted in loss of stimulation. She required a laminectomy-placed lead which was implanted under dexmedetomidine infusion and local anesthesia. Patient #2: A 54-year-old female with Failed Back Syndrome who had good pain control until a lead fracture resulted in loss of stimulation. She underwent a laminectomy-placed lead, new battery pocket, and removal of the old system under a dexmedetomidine infusion and local anesthesia. LIMITATIONS Report of only 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS The anesthetic management from a laminectomy-placed spinal cord stimulator can present a difficult choice. A general anesthetic or even deep sedation can provide good operative conditions but limits intraoperative testing or in the case of deep sedation risks losing the airway in the prone position. On the other hand, minimal sedation, which facilitates intraoperative testing, can make the surgical procedure extremely uncomfortable or even unbearable. Dexmedetomidine infusion and local anesthesia provide sedation for the operative portions while rendering the patient alert and cooperative during intraoperative testing.