Resuscitative cardiac arrest during a Caesarean section-When every second counts: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Cardiac pulmonary arrest is the most challenging and dreaded complication of neuraxial blockade. Patient’s concern: A 21-year-old patient at 37 weeks of gestation, with previous lower segment Caesarean section pregnancy presented for elective Caesarean section. Diagnosis: Cardiac arrest after performing a subarachnoid block. Intervention: Maternal resuscitation. Outcome: Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved within 4-5 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A single live healthy male baby was delivered. Lesson: A careful preoperative evaluation, adequate preload, constant vigilant monitoring to recognize vasovagal response at the earliest, and immediate initiation of resuscitative measures play the most important role in saving the precious lives in case of pregnant patients undergoing Caesarean section under subarachnoid block.

Keywords

• cardiac arrest; pregnancy; neuraxial blockade; subarachnoid block