[Single ventricle and obstetric anaesthesia: two cases report]

Single ventricle is a relatively rare abnormality found only in 0.5-1.5% of patients with congenital heart disease. Pregnancy results in an increased maternal morbidity and mortality in patients with right to left shunting, especially in cases associated with pulmonary hypertension and polycythemia and decreased arterial oxygen saturation. Most complications arise from decreases in systemic vascular resistance, causing an increase in right to left shunting and further hypoxemia and acidosis. For this reason, the major regional anaesthetic techniques are often avoided in these patients. The authors reported two successful management of regional anaesthesia for both caesarean and vaginal delivery.