Anesthesia and psoriatic arthropathy: Challenges and literature review

Abstract

Psoriatic arthopathy (PA) can present with significant challenges to the perioperative physician due
to consequences of difficult airway, distorted anatomy for regional anesthesia, respiratory and skin
complications and the side effects with the medications used to control the disease activity. Awake
fiberoptic intubation is the safest option in these patients with a potentially difficult airway if regional
anesthesia is failed. Nerve block could be an attractive option for pain relief in lower limb surgery. Here
we describe a case of psoriatic arthropathy with difficult airway, successfully managed after failed regional
anesthesia. We describe the anesthetic challenges and management in a patient with psoriasis.