1/50. Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with an intracranial arteriovenous malformation.Intracranial haemorrhage from an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) during pregnancy is rare but may result in significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In the untreated patient with an AVM, the best mode of delivery remains debatable with most obstetricians preferring a caesarean section in order to avoid Valsalva manoeuvres associated with vaginal delivery. We describe the administration of epidural anaesthesia for such a parturient undergoing Caesarean section and the anaesthetic implications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/50. Anaesthesia for caesarean section in the presence of severe primary pulmonary hypertension.We describe the case of a pregnant woman, 35 weeks' gestation, with primary pulmonary hypertension and coarctation of the aorta requiring emergency Caesarean section under general anaesthesia. The patient had a pulmonary artery catheter inserted before operation which revealed pulmonary artery pressures in excess of 80/40 mm Hg. These were lowered using an infusion of glyceryl trinitrate. After delivery of the baby and administration of oxytocin, pulmonary artery pressures were more difficult to control. An infusion of prostacyclin was substituted which stabilized pulmonary pressures. After operation, she was transferred to the intensive care unit where prostacyclin was administered by an "aerosolized" route. Her trachea was extubated after 48 h and she made an uneventful recovery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/50. Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with recent subarachnoid haemorrhage and severe pre-eclampsia.Subarachnoid haemorrhage is a leading 'indirect' cause of maternal death in the UK. We describe the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with headache, photophobia and neck stiffness of sudden onset at 32 weeks' gestation. Cerebral computed tomography demonstrated subarachnoid blood in the cisterns around the midbrain, and oral nimodipine was started to prevent vasospasm. Preparations were made for endovascular coil embolisation in the event of identification of a posterior circulation aneurysm. However, angiography under general anaesthesia failed to reveal any vascular abnormality. On emergence from anaesthesia, headache persisted, and over the next 24 h severe pre-eclampsia developed. magnesium sulphate was started, and urgent Caesarean section performed under general anaesthesia without incident. The rationale for the neuroradiological, obstetric and anaesthetic management is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/50. Emergency repair of incidentally diagnosed ascending aortic aneurysm immediately after caesarean section.A 36-yr-old pregnant woman with a history of hypertension presented at term for elective Caesarean section because of breech position. At preoperative examination, a diastolic murmur was found and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) revealed a large, 8.1-cm diameter ascending aortic aneurysm with severe aortic regurgitation and moderate pericardial effusion. Surgical repair was not considered to be urgently required. The patient was delivered electively by Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia using invasive arterial pressure monitoring. TOE performed 6 h post-partum showed progressing pericardial effusion, for which emergency replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta were indicated. The epidural catheter was removed 4 h before starting the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure. arterial pressure was controlled by a titrated infusion of esmolol and clonidine. To improve uterine tone, the patient received an i.v. infusion of oxytocin throughout surgery. After implantation of an aortic composite graft and weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. Awake and receptive to neurological evaluation, her trachea was extubated 4 h after surgery. Mother and baby made an uneventful recovery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/50. Epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section in a patient with severe Takayasu's disease.Takayasu's arteritis or disease is a rare, idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disease which causes narrowing, occlusion or aneurysms of blood vessels. It preferentially affects large arteries such as the aorta and its branches and hence its alternative names of pulseless disease, occlusive thromboaortopathy or aortic arch syndrome. Although most commonly found in oriental women, it occurs sporadically throughout the world. We present the case of an elderly primigravida with long-standing Takayasu's disease complicated by hospital and needle phobia who underwent a successful Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. Her management is discussed in the light of current opinion regarding pregnancy and Takayasu's disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/50. Severe vasovagal attack during regional anaesthesia for caesarean section.A patient experienced a severe vasovagal attack during regional anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section. The combination of vagal over-activity and sympathetic block produced profound hypotension that threatened the life of the mother and infant. The vasovagal syndrome is described, and its prevention and management discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/50. Transthoracic echocardiography for perioperative haemodynamic monitoring.Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is valuable for perioperative monitoring in patients at risk from haemodynamic disturbance. However, its use is not practicable in patients undergoing surgical procedures under regional anaesthesia. We describe two cases showing that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has the same advantages as TOE and thus may be valuable for monitoring awake patients. TTE should be considered when extended perioperative haemodynamic monitoring is needed but TOE is not possible.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/50. Phaeochromocytoma: an unusual cause of hypertension in pregnancy.A primiparous, full-term, 28-year-old woman underwent an emergency lower segment Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia for failure to progress in the first stage. Despite an uneventful pregnancy and delivery, she developed a hypertensive crisis in the postoperative period complicated by acute pulmonary oedema requiring ventilation for 48 h in the intensive care unit. Intravenous magnesium sulphate infusions and hydralazine boluses were used to control the blood pressure, which was associated with clonus, hyperreflexia, tachycardia and profuse sweating. The patient made a good recovery. Later measurement of urinary catecholamines in the recovery phase showed greatly elevated levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and vanillyl mandelic acid. Further investigations included a normal abdominal computed tomography scan and a I-123 meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine scintigraphy scan which revealed a 3- to 4-cm irregular tumour located at the level of the lower pole of the right kidney and further liver hot spots. Intravenous magnesium sulphate infusion proved successful in controlling hypertension caused by a phaeochromocytoma in the postpartum period.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/50. Incremental spinal anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section in a patient with Eisenmenger's syndrome.We describe a new approach to anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section in a woman with Eisenmenger's syndrome. Incremental regional anaesthesia was performed using a microspinal catheter and haemodynamic monitoring included transthoracic bioimpedance cardiography. This approach allowed the disadvantages of general anaesthesia and invasive cardiac output monitoring to be avoided.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/50. Use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator and anti-arrhythmic agents in a parturient.We describe a case of a 36-yr-old patient who presented at 14 weeks gestation with multifocal dysrrhythmic episodes. Despite treatment with anti-arrythmic agents and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in situ, she continued to experience persistent dysrrhythmic episodes. She was delivered by Caesarean section at 34 weeks under general anaesthesia. We discuss some of the anaesthetic challenges of parturients with ICD devices.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaesthesia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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