Anaesthetic management for emergent upper limb trauma surgery in a 23-week pregnant woman: Role of ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus block. Case report

We describe the anaesthetic management of a 34-year-old woman at 23 weeks of gestation with a forearm tendon and vascular injury who required an emergent surgical repair. Brachial plexus nerve block avoids the potential risk of failed intubation and aspiration in addition to reducing the exposure of the foetus to potentially teratogenic drugs. Whenever feasible, a regional anaesthetic technique should be used. If general anaesthesia is mandatory, a rapid sequence induction is required. A multidisciplinary approach needs to be established early in the management of these patients. Anaesthetists must provide safe anaesthesia for both mother and child by maintaining adequate maternal oxygenation for avoiding foetal asphyxia.
Source: Colombian Journal of Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research