Intrathecal baclofen use in the management of tetanus related spasm: A case report

Tetanus is an infectious disease of the central nervous system with highmortality rates characterized with respiratory distress and tonic muscle spasms.The most common cause of mortality is cardiovascular complications (40%)and respiratory distress (15%). Despite vaccination programs, tetanus remainsto be a significant healthcare issue in developing nations. Prolonged sedationand administration of muscle relaxants prolongs the period on mechanicalventilation and duration of hospitalization in severe tetanus cases. However,intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy might shorten the duration of stay atintensive care units, improve patient outcomes, and constitute a treatmentoption alternative to paralytic agents and sedation. In this manuscript, wepresent a 12-years-old case diagnosed with tetanus and treated with ITB uponobservation of spasms refractory to high dose sedation and muscle relaxants.

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