EXTRADURAL ANAESTHESIA FOR CAESAREAN SECTION IN ACHONDROPLASIA

We describe the successful management of a 26-yr-old achondroplasticdwarf undergoing elective Caesarean section under extraduralanaesthesia. The patient had marked thoraco-lumbar kyphoscoliosisand clinical features which suggested that tracheal intubationwould prove difficult. Block sufficient for surgery requiredonly 5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and, apart from an initial unilateralblock and mild intraoperative hypotension, her perioperativecourse was uneventful. ^* Present address: Department of Anaesthesia, Green Lane Hospital,Green Lane, Auckland, New Zealand.