Publication: Unexplained apnoea and loss of consciousness during sub arachnoid block for caesarean section
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Sub arachnoid block (SAB) is often perceived safe by many anesthesiologists and other faculties but is also not completely
safe choice especially in pregnant females, as the incidence of complications and local anaesthetic agent toxicity is high
in these groups of patients. Here we present four such cases out of the seventeen patients over a period of six months,
who developed apnea and transient loss of consciousness after spinal anesthesia for lower segment caesarean section.
Typically all these patients after spinal anesthesia developed difficulty in breathing, became apnoea and had loss of
consciousness for about a minute or two. The apnea was relieved with bag and mask ventilation following which the
patient regained consciousness and start breathing normally. The rest of the procedure was uneventful. We presented
these cases with aim of sharing similar experiences, and to aware about the possibility of such events as these events do
occur frequently but case reports and literatures are unavailable.
Key words: Apnoea, loss of consciousness, lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), Sub arachnoid block (SAB).
Description
Acharya SP 1, Marhatta MN2, Amatya R 3
1Lecturer, 2Associate Professor and Head, 3Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Nepal.