Anaesthesia for caesarean section in a parturient with quintuplet gestation, pulmonary oedema and thrombocytopaenia

The case of a 32-year-old parturient with a quintuplet pregnancy is described. The pregnancy had been complicated by premature labour which was treated with ritodrine tocolysis. Betamethasone was administered to hasten fetal lung maturation. The ritodrine therapy was complicated with fluid overload and pulmonary oedema requiring intravenous diuretic treatment. The patient presented urgently for Caesarean section, with fluid overload and worsening thrombocytopaenia. Life-threatening pulmonary oedema was manifest in the immediate preinduction period, following insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter and surgery was delayed to improve the mother's condition with intravenous diuretic therapy. Induction was carried out with the patient in the sitting position, with cricoid pressure maintained to protect the airway as the patient was lowered to a wedged, supine position. Intravenous nitroglycerin was used to control blood pressure. Low pressure mask-bag ventilation was utilized to maintain oxygen saturation and the patient was intubated and ventilated with positive end-expiratory pressure. Positive pressure ventilation was continued for 24 hours postoperatively. The perioperative course is reviewed and followed by a discussion of the anaesthetic considerations for multiple gestation pregnancies.