[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia for a woman in the 28th week of gestation]

Anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under hypobaric pneumoperitoneum was given to a pregnant woman in 28th week of gestation. Anesthesia was induced by administering thiopental(5 mg.kg-1) and vecuronium (0.1 mg.kg-1). The lungs were artificially ventilated with oxygen, nitrous oxide, and low concentrations of sevoflurane to maintain the end-expiratory CO2 pressure at 30 to 35 mmHg. Before inducing anesthesia, a thoracic epidural catheter was inserted, and 2% mepivacaine was administered through the catheter. During the operative period, the operating field was secured by the pneumoperitoneum pressure at 8 mmHg and Fowler's and left down position. Mother's blood gases and the fetal heart beat monitored with the abdominal supersonic wave stayed steady through the perioperative periods. The pneumoperitoneum time was 34 minutes and the operation time was 40 minutes without any troubles. But we should pay much attention to anesthesia and operation in any pregnant patient.