In conclusion, the occurrence of this rare and unfortunate complication emphasizes the need for a coordinated team effort with special attention to every intervention in the course of surgery. Naturally, the anesthetist must be attentive to any changes in the patient’s position. The patient’s safety shall always prevail rather than the comfort of the surgical team. 1. Sawyer RJ, Richmond MN, Hickey JD, Jarrratt JA. Peripheral nerve injuries associated with anaesthesia. Anaesthesia. 2000;5510:980-91. 2. Bhananker SM, Domino KB. What actions can be used to prevent peripheral nerve injury? In: Fleisher LA. Evidence-based practice of anesthesiology. 2nd Ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. p. 210-8. 3. Morell RC, Prielipp RC, Harwood TN, James RL, Butterworth JF. Men are more susceptible than women to direct pressure on unmyelinated ulnar nerve fibers. Anesth Analg 2003;974:1183-8. 4. Kroll DA, Caplan RA, Posner K, Ward RJ, Cheney FW. Nerve injury associated with anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 1990;732:202-7. 5. Welch MB, Brummet ChM, Welch TD, Tremper KK, Shanks AM, Guglani P, et al. Perioperative peripheral nerve injuries: a retrospective study of 380,680 cases during a 10-years period at a single institution. Anesthesiology. 2009;1113:490-7. 8. Warner MA, Warner DO, Harper CM, Schroeder DR, Maxson PM. Lower extremity neuropathies associated with lithotomy positions. Anesthesiology. 2000;934:938-42. 10. Selander D, Brattsand R, Lundborg G, Nordborg C, OlssonY. Local anesthetics: importance of mode of application, concentration and adrenaline for the appearance of nerve lesions. An experimental study of axonal degeneration and barrier damage after intrafascicular injection or topical application of bupivacaine Marcain. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1979;232:127-36. 11. Goodyear-Smith F, Halliwell J. Anticonvulsants for neuropathic pain gaps in the evidence. Clin J Pain. 2009;256:528-36.
En conclusión, la aparición de esta infrecuente y desafortunada complicación es una muestra más de la necesidad de un trabajo coordinado y en equipo, teniendo atenta consideración de todas las intervenciones que se realicen en el transoperatorio, y por supuesto el anestesiólogo debe estar atento a los cambios de posición, velando por la seguridad del paciente antes que la comodidad del equipo quirúrgico.