Where Spinal Anesthesia is Not the Final Word- Cesarean Section under General Anesthesia in a Primi Gravida with Severe Scoliosis and Type 4 Placenta Previa: A Case Report

Both neuraxial and general anesthesia present unique challenges to the anesthesiologist when managing a pregnant patient with scoliosis. The type and duration of scoliosis and the Cobb's angle are key determinants of the degree of respiratory compromise. Pregnant women with scoliosis are anticipated to have deformities in the vertebra, which can render subarachnoid or epidural anesthesia technically challenging. The pulmonary complications following scoliosis add to the physiological changes in pregnancy and can make mechanical ventilation fraught with challenges. We hereby present the anesthetic concerns involved in the management of a parturient with severe scoliosis, gestational hypertension, gestational thrombocytopenia, and placenta previa posted for cesarean section.