Cardiac arrest following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section: a case report

Spinal anaesthesia is regarded safe for caesarean section. Serious complications resulting from spinal anaesthesia such as cardiac arrest are often times considered rare. This is a case of a 27-year old unbooked gravida1 who was scheduled for emergency caesarean section on account of cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD) with associated history of prolonged labour. The patient was preloaded with normal saline one hour before subarachnoid block (SAB) was established and suffered a cardiac arrest immediately after establishing SAB. She was successfully resuscitated using chest compressions, adrenaline and oxygen and a live baby was delivered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The patient developed seizures in the immediate postoperative period. She was treated with an anti-epileptic drug and was also mechanically ventilated. She also developed features of puerperal psychosis and was managed with anti-psychotics. The patient was on admission in the intensive care unit for four days and she made quick recovery with no apparent residual damage.