[Propofol anesthesia for an emergent caesarean section in a patient with asthma]

We report a case of emergency caesarean section due to bleeding from placenta praevia under general anesthesia in a patient with asthma. General anesthesia was induced by propofol 150 mg and suxamethonium 80 mg, and operation was started immediately after tracheal intubation under cricoid cartilage pressure. While induction-delivery time took about 270 seconds, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes are 8 and 9 points, respectively. Plasma concentration of propofol in umbilical vein was 0.73 microgram.ml-1 by HPLC. Although anesthetic maintenance was carried out by oxygen-nitrous oxide-isoflurane after delivery, no asthmatic attack was seen throughout the operation. Anesthetic induction by propofol for emergency caesarean section might be safe and useful in a patient with asthma with little effects to neonates.