Achondroplasia: anaesthetic challenges for caesarean section.

Abstract

Pregnancy in women with achondroplasia presents major challenges for anaesthetists and obstetricians. We report the case of a woman with achondroplasia who underwent general anaesthesia for an elective caesarean section. She was 99cm in height and her condition was further complicated by severe kyphoscoliosis and previous back surgery. She was reviewed in the first trimester at the anaesthetic high-risk clinic. A multidisciplinary team was convened to plan her peripartum care. Because of increasing dyspnoea caesarean section was performed at 32weeks of gestation. She received a general anaesthetic using a modified rapid-sequence technique with remifentanil and rocuronium. The intraoperative period was complicated by desaturation and high airway pressures. The woman's postoperative care was complicated by respiratory compromise requiring high dependency care.

• Authors: L Dubiel, G A Scott, R Agaram, E McGrady, A Duncan, K N Litchfield
• Journal: International journal of obstetric anesthesia (Int J Obstet Anesth) Vol. 23 Issue 3 Pg. 274-8 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1532-3374 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24768304 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Androstanols
• Anesthetics, Intravenous
• Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
• Piperidines
• Remifentanil
• Rocuronium

Topics

• Achondroplasia (complications)
• Androstanols
• Anesthesia, General
• Anesthesia, Obstetrical
• Anesthetics, Intravenous
• Cesarean Section (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
• Patient Care Team
• Piperidines
• Pregnancy
• Remifentanil
• Rocuronium
• Scoliosis (complications)
• Young Adult