Anaesthetic management of a parturient with dilated cardiomyopathy: A case report

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a form of cardiomyopathy characterized by left ventricular or biventricular dilatation and impaired ventricular contractility. This results in systolic dysfunction of the heart with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and progressive congestive cardiac failure. Pregnancy in patients with pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy can flare up the disease and can be fatal. This case report describes the successful anaesthetic management of a parturient with dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

Keywords

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Spinal anaesthesia
• Caesarean section