Sodium nitroprusside for aneurysm surgery in pregnancy. Report of a case

A 25-year-old woman in the 7th month of pregnancy was operated upon for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Sodium nitroprusside was used to achieve effective controlled hypotension. Signs of foetal distress were transient. Subsequent delivery was spontaneous and uneventful. Development of the child at 2 yr was satisfactory. The various physiological aspects and the action of nitroprusside on both mother and foetus are discussed.