title: Cardiomyopathy in pregnancy and caesarean section: four case reports.
abstract: We present the clinical details of four women with cardiomyopathy who required caesarean section. Two women had peripartum cardiomyopathy and two had hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, one of whom has had two caesarean sections. Those with peripartum cardiomyopathy were more compromised than those with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Co-operation between obstetric and cardiac anaesthetists ensured optimum experience was available. An incremental combined spinal-epidural technique with invasive monitoring was used for three women and one received general anaesthesia. The risks and benefits of different anaesthetic techniques are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, UK. arturpryn@zoom.co.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pryn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bryden
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McGrady
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods; D000776:Anesthesiology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014463:Ultrasonography; D006113:United Kingdom