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Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Success of Ultrasound-Guided Neuraxial Anesthesia in Cases with Difficult Anatomy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Neuraxial anesthesia for labor and delivery in a parturient with unstable cervical spine fracture
Cathleen Peterson-Layne1, Aaron J Sandler
1From the Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina.
We report the successful anesthetic management of labor and passive second-stage delivery in a parturient requiring cervical spine stabilization with a halo. A 25-year-old, Gravida 1, Para 0 at 37 weeks of gestation, admitted for observation after a recent motor vehicle collision, required induction of labor for preeclampsia. The mode of delivery was dependent on a successful anesthetic technique for a passive second stage of labor. The injury and halo presented concerns for access to her airway and preservation of neurologic status. An epidural placed early in labor allowed for adequate analgesia, as well as sacral extension for a forceps-assisted delivery.
We report the successful anesthetic management of labor and passive second-stage delivery in a parturient requiring cervical spine stabilization with a halo. A 25-year-old, Gravida 1, Para 0 at 37 weeks of gestation, admitted for observation after a recent motor vehicle collision, required induction of labor for preeclampsia. The mode of delivery was dependent on a successful anesthetic technique for a passive second stage of labor. The injury and halo presented concerns for access to her airway and preservation of neurologic status. An epidural placed early in labor allowed for adequate analgesia, as well as sacral extension for a forceps-assisted delivery.
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