Cardiac arrest following spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section: a case report.
Spinal anaesthesia is regarded safe for caesarean section. Serious complications resulting from spinal anaesthesia such as cardiac arrest are often times considered rare. This is a case of a 27 year old un-booked gravida1 who was scheduled for emergency caesarean section on account of cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD) with associated history of prolonged labour. The patient was preloaded with normal saline one hour before subarachnoid block (SAB) was established and suffered a cardiac arrest immediately after establishing SAB. She was successfully resuscitated using chest compressions, adrenaline and oxygen and a live baby was delivered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The patient developed seizures in the immediate postoperative period. She was treated with an anti-epileptic drug and was also mechanically ventilated. She also developed features of puerperal psychosis and was managed with anti-psychotics. The patient was on admission in the intensive care unit for four days and she made quick recovery with no apparent residual damage.
Department of Anaesthesia, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
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Osazuwa
D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy