Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis: a case report

Although it is very rare, the syndrome of Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA) should be known to anaesthetic practitioners due to its perioperative implications. We report the first case of this in the British Isles, in a 5-year-old girl, whose osteomyelitis required surgical intervention. The genetics, the cellular basis and pathophysiology of the condition are outlined, and the relevance of analgesia in this challenging setting is considered in this report.