Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for urgent cesarean section in a parturient with a single ventricle: a case report

Korean J Anesthesiol. 2016 Dec;69(6):632-634. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2016.69.6.632. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Abstract

The number of women with major congenital heart defects reaching reproductive age is likely increasing. We herein describe the anesthetic management of a 33-year-old woman at 37 gestational weeks with a history of Glenn surgery who was undergoing an urgent cesarean section due to pathological cardiotocography. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was the most suitable technique for urgent cesarean section in our patient with a single ventricle and phasic flow in the pulmonary artery because it provided rapid-onset anesthesia with negligible hemodynamic effects.

Keywords: Glenn circulation; Major congenital heart defect; Obstetric anesthesia.