Pregnant woman with severe thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis and short stature, present unique challenges for management of anesthesia for caesarean section. It involves physiological changes in pregnancy, pathological changes of severe kyphoscoliosis and short stature which will cause unpredictable drug movement in subarachnoid space. Anesthetic procedure must address the well-being of both mother and foetus. Spinal deformities may cause difficulties with both tracheal intubation and regional anesthesia. Due to problems associated with respiratory system, spinal anesthesia is used widely though technically difficult.

We present a pregnant woman with severe thoracic kyphoscoliosis and short stature ( height – 145 cm ) posted for caesarean section successfully managed with low dose spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine and fentanyl.

We achieved an adequate level of sensory and motor blockade for caesarean section with perioperative stable hemodynamics and uneventful course.

We suggest that low dose spinal anesthesia with a proper planning and meticulous approach can be a useful technique in pregnant woman with severe kyphoscoliosis and short stature for caesarean section.

kyphoscoliosis, short stature, pregnancy, low dose spinal anesthesia.

1. DNB Student, 2. Registrar, 3.Consultant Anesthesiologist, 4.Consultant Anesthesiologist.Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Yashoda Hospital Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India.