When Mimicry Holds the Key: Navigating Anesthesia in a Nonverbal Autistic Child With a Mysterious Neuromuscular Disorder
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-11-2025
Abstract
A 6-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder presented for muscle biopsy as part of the workup for an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition. Though previously anesthetized, this case posed a new challenge: the patient would only permit IV placement and induction after her mother mimicked every step on herself. Each movement, including the BP cuff, monitors, and mask, had to be mirrored in real time. Induction succeeded only through real-time maternal scripting. This case explores how nontraditional, behaviorally driven strategies, rooted in imitation and maternal mirroring, can overcome complex communication barriers in pediatric anesthesia and transform a potentially failed induction into success.
Recommended Citation
Attisha T, Jones J, Zamzam M, Soto R. When mimicry holds the key: navigating anesthesia in a nonverbal autistic child with a mysterious neuromuscular disorder. Presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Annual Meeting; 2025 Oct 11; San Antonio, TX. Available from:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21028/presentation/8584
Comments
American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Annual Meeting, October 10-14, 2025, San Antonio, TX