Postoperative Peripheral Neuropathy

Case Synopsis

A 28-year-old man with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for 15 years was diagnosed with testicular cancer. His chemotherapy regimen consisted of bleomycin and cisplatin. He underwent postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection under general anesthesia. The surgery, which took 2 hours, was unremarkable, as was his stay in the postanesthesia care unit. On postoperative day 3, the patient noted a decreased level of sensation in the fourth and fifth digits of his left hand. He had no prior history of peripheral neuropathy. He was subsequently diagnosed with a left ulnar neuropathy.