[Perinatal deaths associated with paracervical anesthesia (author's transl)]

Two infants' death associated with paracervical anesthesia are reported. In both cases a severe fetal bradycardia which developed 5 and 10 minutes, respectively, after paracervical injection of 10 ml of 0.5% Bupivacain, was the reason for Caesarean section. The clinical signs of the infants were similar: low Apgar score, primary apnea, grey colour, flaccidity, no reactions; after a few hours, however, general muscular hypertonus, and repeated attacks of tonic seizures. Accidental injection of Bupivacain into the fetus cannot be excluded in both cases. -- The fetal risks through paracervical anesthesia are being reviewed.