[Hypoxia after cesarean section in a patient with myotonic dystrophy]

A 28-year-old woman, 35 week-pregnant, underwent emergency cesarean section. Although she had no apparent symptoms before the operation, myotonic dystrophy was suspected from physical examination and laboratory data. The anesthesiologist in charge recognized only high creatine kinase. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was performed. During the operation and on the 1st postoperative day, Spo2 remained 99% with 3 l x min(-1) oxygen administration. However, on the 2nd postoperative day Spo2 decreased. The low Spo2 persisted for 4 days. Hypoventilation and difficulty in expectoration as a result of respiratory muscle weakness might have been the cause of the prolonged hypoxemia.