Review Article
Anesthetic management of a patient presenting with
eclampsia
S. Parthasarathy, V. R. Hemanth Kumar, R. Sripriya, M. Ravishankar
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India
Corresponding author: Dr. S. Parthasarathy, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute,
Puducherry - 607 402, India. E-mail: painfreepatha@gmail.com
Abstract
Eclampsia is one of the most common emergencies encountered by anesthesiologists which
involve a safe journey of two lives. The definition, etiology, pathophysiology, treatment guidelines
along with a special reference to management of labour pain and caesarean section are discussed.
Eclampsia is commonly faced challenging case in our day to day anaesthesia practice,but less is
discussed in our anaesthesia text books. Lot of controversies with regard to fluid management
and monitoring still remain unanswered
INTRODUCTION AND DIAGNOSIS cerebral tumors, cerebral abscess, viral, bacterial, parasitic
infestations, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia,
Any pregnant woman presenting with a convulsion in an and hyperglycemia.[2,3]
emergency setting should be taken as eclampsia unless Risk factors for eclampsia include nulliparity, multiple
proved. Greek meaning of eclampsia is fancied perception gestation, molar pregnancy, triploidy, pre-existing
of flashes of light, as the entity is associated with visual hypertension or renal disease, previous severe
disturbances. Eclampsia is defined as the occurrence preeclampsia or eclampsia, nonimmune hydrops fetalis,
of one or more generalized convulsions and/or coma in and systemic lupus erythematosus.[4]
the setting of pre-eclampsia and in the absence of other We have tried to discuss its pathophysiology and
neurologic conditions before, during, or after labor.[1] management with a special emphasis on quick and
The differential diagnosis includes epilepsy, cerebral scientific anesthetic intervention to have a successful
infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid outcome in sick patients.
hemorrhage, cerebral venous thrombosis, cerebral Etiology
edema, malignant hypertension, benign and malignant Hypothesis of mechanism of endothelial damage leading
to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia [Figure 1][5].
Access this article online
Website DOI Quick Response Code Pathogenesis of seizures
www.aeronline.org 10.4103/0259-1162.123214 There is a loss of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow
(CBF) (60-120 mmHg) causing increased CBF making some
segments of vessels dilated, ischemic, and increasingly
permeable. Cerebral vasospasm, ischemia, edema,
hemorrhage, and hypertensive encephalopathy are
probably associated in pathogenesis.[6]
307
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches; 7(3); Sep-Dec 2013 Parthasarathy, et al.: Eclampsia anaesthetic management
Unknown Etiology
Endothelial Damage
Decreased
HELLP sensitivity to Decreased GFR
vasodilators. and RBF
Decreased aldosterone
escape, increased sodium
Increased SVR and water retention Edema
308
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches; 7(3); Sep-Dec 2013 Parthasarathy, et al.: Eclampsia anaesthetic management
309
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches; 7(3); Sep-Dec 2013 Parthasarathy, et al.: Eclampsia anaesthetic management
levobupivacaine may be used but the superiority of these anesthesiologist should also maintain vigilance toward the
agents compared to bupivacaine is not established till now. pulmonary function, urinary output, evidence of aortocaval
In the combined spinal epidural technique, the intrathecal compression and epidural-induced systemic hypotension
dose, an opioid alone such as fentanyl or sufentanil may that may lead to decreased uteroplacental blood flow. Small
be used or a combination of 1.25-2.5 mg of bupivacaine incremental intravenous doses (50 ug) of phenylephrine
with 25 μg fentanyl. Opioids, especially in large doses are may be used to treat hypotension temporarily while
cautiously administered for the possibility of exacerbation additional intravenous fluid is infused judiciously.
of increased ICP from respiratory depression. It is better to
avoid overzealous preloading with intravenous fluids before General anesthesia
establishing low-dose epidural analgesia and combined General anesthesia (GA) is the choice in unconscious,
spinal epidural analgesia. Newsome et al.[11] in their study obtunded patients with evidence of increased ICP.
Anesthesia is achieved with an opioid and relaxant
on hemodynamic effects of lumbar epidural anesthesia in
technique and deliberate hyperventilation. The important
severe preeclampsia have suggested that with judicious
considerations are
hydration and slow induction of block, hypotension can be
• Airway edema
minimized with little change in CVP, CI, and PCWP.
• Possibility of difficult airway management
Ergometrine should be avoided in the third stage of labor • Although cholinesterase levels decrease, the duration of
as it may elevate the blood pressure further. Instead, action of succinylcholine and ester local anesthetics is
oxytocin 20 IU in a liter of Ringer’s lactate solution is to seldom affected
be given intravenously at 10 drops/min. The second stage • Exaggerated hypertensive responses to endotracheal
is assisted by forceps in all eclamptic patients having a intubation
vaginal delivery, to minimize maternal efforts at bearing • Drug interaction between magnesium and muscle
down and prevent further increase in blood pressure. relaxants
• A small dose of a volatile halogenated agent may prevent
Management of anesthesia for caesarian section awareness
Regional anesthesia • Extubation done in the left lateral position when patient
Spinal or epidural anesthesia can be given safely if the is fully conscious or else patient is transferred to ICU
patient is conscious, seizure free with stable vital signs with for ventilatory support depending on the preoperative
no signs of raised ICP. Moodley et al.[12] found no difference condition and intraoperative behavior.
in maternal and neonatal outcomes when comparing
epidural versus general anesthesia for cesarean section Should we monitor fluid management?
in conscious women with eclampsia. Spinal anesthesia Initial finding seen in most cases is low CVP and high
with low-dose bupivacaine with fentanyl is a good option. left-sided filling pressures (PCWP). If urine output is
Safety of spinal anesthesia has been studied in eclamptics adequate there is no necessity for any special monitoring. If
by Razzaque et al.[13] who concluded that spinal is safer urine output is not adequate, a fluid challenge is done with
than GA for LSCS in eclamptics. A prospective cohort 250-500 ml of crystalloid infused over 20 min. If response
comparison by Antonie[14] et al. in patients with severe is seen additional fluid boluses may be given cautiously. If
pre-eclampsia concluded that pre-eclamptic patients there is no response to the initial fluid bolus, CVP or PCWP
experience less hypotension during spinal anesthesia monitoring becomes necessary. Pulmonary artery catheter is
for elective cesarean delivery than healthy parturients. indicated in severe pulmonary edema, oliguria unresponsive
Hyperbaric bupivacaine (7.5 mg) with 25 μg fentanyl to fluid therapy and intractable hypertension.[16]
provides adequate anesthesia for cesarean section. If a
CVP monitoring concepts
CSE technique is instituted, the presence of the epidural
Currently a volume expansion to CVP of at least 6-8 mmHg
catheter provides the flexibility to extend the level and the
is considered to be safe and effective. Young et al.[17] in their
duration of block. Contraindications to regional anesthesia
study on hemodynamic, invasive, and echocardiographic
include patient refusal, DIC, placental abruption. With
monitoring in hypertensive parturients found that the
regard to administering spinal anesthesia in patients on
CVP–PCWP gradients in severe pre-eclampsia may be as
Aspirin, it has been recommended by American society high as 8-10 mmHg. Therefore, a CVP of 8 mmHg might
of regional anesthesia[15] that a low-dose aspirin therapy correspond to a PCWP as high as 18 mmHg. This results
is not a contraindication to regional technique. Regional in volume overload and possibly pulmonary edema.
anesthesia is considered safe when the platelet count is Hence, the aim of a volume expansion to achieve a CVP of
more than 75 000 per micro liter. Platelet count more than 4 mmHg or less may be better in eclamptics.
50 000 per micro liter is generally considered a
contraindication. Within the range 50-75 thousands When is intra-arterial blood pressure indicated?[18]
per micro liter an individual assessment (considering Even though individual cases differ, invasive blood pressure
patient risks and coagulation tests) is necessary. The monitoring is required in the following situations.
310
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches; 7(3); Sep-Dec 2013 Parthasarathy, et al.: Eclampsia anaesthetic management
311
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches; 7(3); Sep-Dec 2013 Parthasarathy, et al.: Eclampsia anaesthetic management
guidance.nice.org.uk/CG107. [Last accessed on 2013 Feb 1]. 17. Young P, Johanson R. Haemodynamic, invasive, and echocardiographic
11. Newsome LR, Bramwell RS, Curling PE. Severe preeclampsia: Hemodynamic monitoring in the hypertensive parturient. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet
effects of lumbar epidural anesthesia. Anesth Analg 1986;65:31-6. Gynecol 2001;15:605-22.
12. Moodley J, Jjuuko G, Rout C. Epidural compared with general anaesthesia 18. Polley LS. Hypertensive disorders. In: Chestnut DH, Polley LS, Tsen LC,
for caesarean delivery in conscious women with eclampsia. Br J Obstet Wong CA, editors. Chestnut’s Obstetric anaesthesia: Principles and practice.
Gynaecol 2001;108:378-82. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. p. 975-1000.
13. Razzaque M, Rahman K, Sashidharan R. Spinal is safer than GA for LSCS in 19. Mabie WC, Ratts TE, Ramanthan KB. Circulatory congestion in obese
eclamptics (abstract). Anesthesiology 2001;94:A34. hypertensive parturients: A subset of pulmonary edema in pregnancy.
14. Aya AG, Mangin R, Vialles N, Ferrer JM, Robert C, Ripart J, et al. Patients with Obstet Gynecol 1988;72:553-8.
Severe Preeclampsia experience less hypotension during spinal anesthesia 20. Clark SL, Greenspoon JS, Aldahl D. Severe pre-eclampsia with
for elective cesarean delivery than healthy parturients: A Prospective oliguria: Management of hemodynamic subsets. Am J Obstet Gynecol
cohort comparison. Anesth Analg 2003;97:867-72. 1986;154:490-4.
15. Horlocker TT, Wedel DJ, Rowlingson JC, Enneking FK, Kopp SL, Benzon HT,
et al. Regional anesthesia in the patient receiving antithrombotic or
thrombolytic therapy: American Society of Regional Anesthesia and How to cite this article: Parthasarathy S, Hemanth Kumar VR,
Pain Medicine Evidence-Based Guidelines. 3rd ed. Reg Anesth Pain Med Sripriya R, Ravishankar M. Anesthetic management of a patient
2010;35:64-101. presenting with eclampsia. Anesth Essays Res 2013;7:307-1.
16. Ramanathan J, Bennett K. Preeclampsia: Fluids, drugs and anesthetic
management. Anesthesiol Clin North Am 2003;21:145-63.
Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.
312
Copyright of Anesthesia: Essays & Researches is the property of Medknow Publications &
Media Pvt. Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a
listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print,
download, or email articles for individual use.