Anesthesia for cesarean section in a parturient with acute varicella: Is general anesthesia better than neuraxial anesthesia?

Abstract

The incidence of varicella infection during pregnancy is low. However, it is associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, both to the mother and the fetus. The risk for any complication is highest for the mother during the third trimester and pneumonia is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Anesthetic management in these patients depends upon the extent of involvement of the disease, associated complications of varicella, duration of antiviral therapy and natural course if the disease. We present the anesthetic management of a case of cesarean section in a patient with acute varicella infection, and discuss the various concerns regarding the choice of anesthesia.

Keywords

• Anesthesia
• cesarean section
• pregnancy
• varicella (chicken pox)