Use of LMA for awake intubation for caesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
This case report describes the use of a Laryngeal Mask Airway in a morbidly obese parturient with the H.E.L.L.P. syndrome. An urgent Caesarean section was required because of vaginal bleeding and fetal distress.


METHODS
The patient was a 32 year old G3, T1, P1, L1 who presented with epigastric pain, headache, vomiting, and diarrhoea. She was hypertensive (180/110 mmHg) and thrombocytopaenic (18 x 10(-9). L-1). Examination of the airway revealed a short neck, receded jaw, full dentition, large breasts and she was considered to be a potential intubation problem. The patient required an awake intubation using a technique that minimized hypertension, aspiration risk, airway trauma, and hypoxia. A laryngeal mask was used to facilitate tracheal intubation, and the patient tolerated the procedure with no adverse outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The LMA has a place to facilitate potentially difficult awake tracheal intubation with the pregnant patient.
Godley
M
M
Department of Anaesthesia, University of British Columbia, B.C. Women's Hospital and Health Centre Society, Vancouver.
Reddy
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D014851:Wakefulness