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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
Ventilatory support using bilevel positive airway pressure during neuraxial blockade in a patient with severe
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9068, USA.
In pregnant patients with myasthenia gravis and respiratory compromise, neuraxial anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery can risk further respiratory depression. We report the use of epidural anesthesia for dilation and curettage and tubal ligation in a 26-yr-old woman with a 12-wk intrauterine pregnancy with severe myasthenia gravis and respiratory insufficiency in whom ventilatory support during anesthesia was provided successfully using bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation. This report demonstrates how the use of bilevel positive airway pressure for ventilatory support may improve the safety of regional anesthesia in patients with severe respiratory compromise.
In pregnant patients with myasthenia gravis and respiratory compromise, neuraxial anesthesia for lower abdominal surgery can risk further respiratory depression. We report the use of epidural anesthesia for dilation and curettage and tubal ligation in a 26-yr-old woman with a 12-wk intrauterine pregnancy with severe myasthenia gravis and respiratory insufficiency in whom ventilatory support during anesthesia was provided successfully using bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation. This report demonstrates how the use of bilevel positive airway pressure for ventilatory support may improve the safety of regional anesthesia in patients with severe respiratory compromise.
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