Perioperative management of patients with connective tissue disease.

Goodman, Susan M; Figgie, Mark P; Mackenzie, C Ronald · HSS J · 2011

review · Level V

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Abstract

Diseases of the connective tissue are a varied group of disorders with major musculoskeletal manifestations such as joint pain and loss of function. As a consequence of the accompanying inflammatory joint disease, such patients often require surgery. Due to the protean organ-related consequences of these conditions, patients who suffer from chronic connective tissue disease are a highly challenging population in the perioperative context. This paper reviews the management of such patients in this clinical setting.