Anesthetic management of a parturient with varicella presenting for cesarean delivery

A L Janardhan1, N Gupta1, S Prakash1

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, Andaman and Nicobar Institute of Medical Sciences and GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

Varicella (chicken pox) infection is associated with a significant risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The choice of anesthetic technique, either neuraxial or general anesthesia, in such patients remains controversial. Anesthetic management depends not only on the extent of disease involvement and associated complications, but also on the indication for cesarean delivery. We present the anesthetic management of a 25-year-old parturient with acute varicella infection who underwent emergency cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. The risks and benefits of neuraxial anesthesia in the setting of varicella are discussed.

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