Anaesthesia in an infant with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.

The anaesthetic management of a 5-month-old Chinese infant with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome requiring bilateral inguinal hernia repairs is described. This is a rare congenital syndrome characterised by mental retardation, broad thumbs and first toes, craniofacial abnormalities, recurrent respiratory infections and, in one third of cases, congenital heart disease. General anaesthesia combined with caudal block was successfully used. The main complications encountered were minor difficulties with intubation and easily precipitated episodes of oxygen desaturation.