Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy associated with morbid obesity and possible difficult airway presenting for elective Cesarean section, which was successfully managed with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.

Clinical features: A morbidly obese parturient with a potentially difficult airway, suffering from idiopathic peripartum cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 20%), was scheduled for an elective Cesarean section. A combined spinal epidural anesthesia was performed and 6 mg of bupivacaine were injected into the subarachnoid space. This was supplemented after 60 min with 25 mg of bupivacaine injected epidurally. The patient's hemodynamic status was monitored with direct intra-arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure measurements. The patient's perioperative course was uneventful.

Conclusion: In patients suffering from peripartum cardiomyopathy, undergoing Cesarean section, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia may be an acceptable anesthetic alternative.