title: Anesthetic management of urgent cesarean delivery in a parturient with acute malaria infection: a case report.
abstract: Malaria is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Nonetheless, several cases of malaria have been reported in Western countries involving travelers from endemic areas, though very few involve pregnant women. In this article, we report a case of a young woman born in Sierra Leone who had been living in Italy for two years. She was admitted to our hospital with malaise; worsening of her condition led to Plasmodium falciparum infection diagnosis early during her hospital stay, as well as an urgent cesarean delivery. We briefly discuss the features of malaria in pregnancy, the difficulties associated with early diagnosis, and the possible fetal and maternal implications, and also consider how the disease may affect anesthetic management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno Antonio
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Zanfini
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dell'Anna
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catarci
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frassanito
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vagnoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Policlinico "Gemelli", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Draisci
keywords: Cesarean section; Malaria; Premature birth; Spinal anesthesia