Reactions 594 - 30 Mar 1996

SBupivacaine/sufentanil

Respiratory arrest following intrathecaladministration: case report

A 19-year-old woman went into respiratory arrest followingintrathecal administration of bupivacaine and sufentanil forepidural anaesthesia during labour.

The woman received an intrathecal injection of sufentanil10µg, and bupivacaine 2.5mg in the L2-3 interspace. 19 minuteslater, her BP was 77/45mm Hg, and she was apnoeic,cyanosed, and unrousable. Foetal HR was 70 beats/min.Resuscitation was started and the woman was given IVephedrine. She was then intubated and ventilation was started.Her cyanosis resolved over the next 2 minutes and her BPincreased to 130/70mm Hg. An ECG showed sinus rhythm andfoetal HR increased to 130 beats/min.

Following the administration of IV naloxone, the womanbegan to make spontaneous ventilatory efforts. Her protectivereflexes returned with sustained respiration, and she wastherefore extubated and given oxygen via a face mask. Herrespiratory rate increased and she remained drowsy, but easilyrousable for the remainder of her labour.

Following the birth the baby, the woman was monitored for2 hours before being discharged to the post partum ward.Greenhalgh CA. Respiratory arrest in a parturient following intrathecal injection ofsufentanil and bupivacaine. Anaesthesia 51: 173-175, Feb 1996 -Scotland 800426169

1

Reactions 30 Mar 1996 No. 5940114-9954/10/0594-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved