[Anesthetic management for Cesarean section in a patient with left ventricular noncompaction]

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare disease characterized by heart failure, arrhythmia, and embolic events. We report anesthetic management of a pregnant woman with LVNC. At 24 weeks gestation of the first pregnancy, the patient was scheduled for Cesarean section. Preoperatively the patient had symptomatic heart failure, and was anesthetized with propofol and fentanyl aiming at stable intraoperative hemodynamics. About 2 years later, the patient also underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia at 34 weeks gestation of the second pregnancy, because her cardiac function was almost normal and she was not receiving anticoagulant therapy. Both perioperative courses were uneventful. Careful preoperative assessment and close anesthetic planning are necessary.