title: Deceptive level after intrathecal block for cesarean section in a patient with prior abdominoplasty--a case report.
abstract: Abdominoplasty is performed in an increasing number of patients, both male and female. The removal and hence rearrangement of abdominal skin may make assessment of the dermatome level of a subarachnoid block difficult. Also patients may hesitate, or even forget, to reveal cosmetic surgeries during the preanesthetic interview. Therefore it is important to maintain a high index of suspicion in patients who have had bariatric surgery. In this report we present the case of a deceptive anesthetic level in a parturient with an undisclosed history of abdominoplasty who presented for Cesarean section.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, One Gustave L Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Assas
authors.forename: Ethan O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: Elizabeth A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures