Regional Anesthesia Facilitating Surgical and Medical Management of a Patient with Necrotizing Fasciitis and Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Emergent surgery in the setting of a concomitant medical (nonsurgical) emergency challenges the anesthesiology team with multiple and often conflicting concerns. During these rare situations, general anesthesia is often employed. This case report demonstrates a safe and effective regional anesthetic technique utilized as the primary anesthetic during emergent surgery in the setting of a medical emergency. In this particular case, the medical emergency was profound diabetic ketoacidosis and the surgical emergency was life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis of the left upper extremity. An ever-increasing body of literature supports that anesthetic technique has an impact on morbidity and mortality outcomes in specific patient populations. The aim of this case report is to describe the successful use of regional anesthesia to facilitate emergent surgery in a patient who also has a concurrent emergent medical condition. In addition, we review the literature describing the utility of regional anesthesia in such patients.