Bilevel positive airway pressure therapy in a patient with myotonic dystrophy and postoperative respiratory failure: A case report

Respiratory failure is a common complication in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) and might be a presenting symptom in the perioperative setting. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman with MD who underwent open cholecystectomy and developed postoperative respiratory failure. Without reintubation, the patient was successfully managed with bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and was discharged uneventfully. BiPAP may be considered as an alternative for postoperative respiratory failure in patients with MD. Careful observation of patients' postoperative condition and an earlier application of BiPAP are instrumental in avoiding retracheal intubation, which may cause further serious problems in patients with MD.