Case ReportAnesthetic considerations for renal transplant surgery in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome: a case report

- Perioperative care of patients with MELAS has unique considerations.
- Acid-base status, electrolytes, arrhythmias, and stroke symptoms are key concerns.
- Patients with MELAS should not be excluded from consideration for renal transplant surgery.

Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome is a progressive syndrome with variable involvement of multiple-organ systems. These patients require special consideration for preoperative optimization, intraoperative management, and postoperative care. The medical literature regarding perioperative management of these patients relies heavily on case reports. Here we present a novel experience providing care for a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome who underwent renal transplantation for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and end-stage renal disease.