ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF CAESAREAN SECTION FOR A MOTHER WITH PRE-ECLAMPSIA, THE KLIPPEL-FEIL SYNDROME AND CONGENITAL HYDROCEPHALUS

A mother with the Klippel-Feil syndrome, congenital hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure presented for delivery by Caesarean section at 33 weeks because of pre-eclampsia. Anaesthetic management comprised awake intubation using the fibreoptic bronchoscope, followed by induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia for the delivery of a live male infant. This case report describes the problems arising under these circumstances and the relative merits of different anaesthetic techniques.