Epidural anesthetic management of achondroplastic parturient dwarf undergoing cesarean section: A case report

Lim, Se Hun; Shin, Chee Mahn; Kim, Young Jae; Lee, Kun Moo; Lee, Jeong Han; Cho, Kwang Rae; Kim, Myoung Hun; Chang, Shin Hae

Case Report

Obstetric Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2012;7(2):181-184.
Published online May 1, 2012.

Epidural anesthetic management of achondroplastic parturient dwarf undergoing cesarean section: A case report

Se Hun Lim, Chee Mahn Shin, Young Jae Kim, Kun Moo Lee, Jeong Han Lee, Kwang Rae Cho, Myoung Hun Kim, Shin Hae Chang

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Korea. anespc@medimail.co.kr

Abstract

Achondroplasia is the most common non-lethal skeletal dysplasia. Underdevelopment and premature ossification of bones result in characteristic craniofacial and spinal abnormalities. Achondroplastic dwarfs have low fertility rates and require delivery by cesarean section due to their cephalo-pelvic disproportion. Controversy exists regarding the ideal anesthesia for an achondroplastic parturient dwarf for urgent cesarean section. Anesthesia, whether general or regional, presents many potential problems during cesarean section. We report the experience of the epidural anesthesia in an achondroplastic dwarf undergoing elective cesarean section.

Key Words: Achondroplasia, Cesarean section, Dwarf, Epidural anesthesia