[Woman with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy who died of cardiogenic shock after surgery].

We describe a case of 39-year-old woman with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy who underwent radical operation of proctoptosis under general anesthesia. She had chronic renal failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, WPW syndrome, and some other complications with this disease, and her ADL had been decreasing. Since there are few reports about mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and the anesthesia, we did not know the effect of spinal anesthesia or muscle relaxant on this disease, and we selected general anesthesia with laryngeal mask. Operation and general anesthesia went on without any accident; however, on the 4th postoperative day, she died of cardiogenic shock. Autopsy was not performed. We came to a conclusion that there is little relation between her death and general anesthesia, and she died of this disease itself. Of course, general anesthesia might have some effects on her death, but it is difficult to establish the relation of general anesthesia and her death. Great care should be taken for the patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy during and after surgery.