Anesthetic management of a pediatric patient on a ketogenic diet

Abstract  There are several specific considerations regarding seizure control during the perioperative period in patients who have been placed on a ketogenic diet (KD). A KD is high in fat and low in protein and carbohydrates and has a long history of use for the treatment of intractable seizures in children. Maintaining therapeutic ketosis and modifying the acid–base balance are particularly important for preventing seizures in patients on a KD. We report changes in the biochemical parameters of a patient with double cortex syndrome who was on a KD and who had been scheduled for the treatment of dental caries under sevoflurane anesthesia and acetate Ringer administration. Inhalation induction with a high concentration of sevoflurane should be reconsidered in view of recent reports describing the epileptogenic potential of sevoflurane.