Sciatic nerve palsy following childbirth |
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Authors: | M. Silva BSc MB BCh MRCP C. Mallinson MB BS FRCA F. Reynolds MD FRCA FRCOG |
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Affiliation: | Registrar, Department of Neurology;Senior House Officer in Anaesthetics;Professor of Obstetric Anaesthesia, St Thomas'Hospital, London SE1 7EH. |
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Abstract: | Two cases are reported of sciatic nerve palsy after delivery by Caesarean section in primigravidae. One mother was slender and had an emergency Caesarean section for failure to progress with a breech presentation. Epidural analgesia during labour was extended for operative delivery. The other mother was obese, mildly hypertensive, had a large baby with a high head and was delivered by elective Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. She experienced severe intrapartum hypotension. Both patients suffered right sided sciatic nerve palsy. The aetiologies of obstetric palsies and those following regional block are reviewed and the importance of careful diagnosis and of avoiding peripheral nerve compression during regional block are emphasised. |
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Keywords: | Anaesthesia obstetric Complications', sciatic nerve palsy |
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