Anaesthetic management for emergency caesarean section in a patient with an untreated recently diagnosed phaeochromocytoma

Abstract

Phaeochromocytoma is a rare cause of hypertension during pregnancy with potentially fatal consequences. If not detected and treated early in pregnancy, it is catastrophic for both the mother and the baby. Management requires close co-ordination between the obstetrician, anaesthesiologist, paediatrician and the endocrinologist. Perioperative management for an emergency caesarean section in a parturient with untreated phaeochromocytoma is an anaesthetic challenge and no standard recommendations have been reported till date. In this case report, we present anaesthetic management in such a case with successful maternal and foetal outcome.