Prone positioning of pregnant patients for lumbar spinal surgery. Issue 2 (5th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Primrose, Alyson; Roy, Nithin; Teo, Mario; Kanagalingam, Malinin
• Is Part Of: Anaesthesia cases. Volume 2:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2014-12-05
• Subjects: 617.9605
• DOI: 10.21466/ac.PPOPPFL.2014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2396-8397

Abstract

Summary: We describe the safe use of a modified Allen® table to place two parturients in the prone position for surgery under general anaesthesia. Both patients were in the third trimester of pregnancy and presented with cauda equina syndrome requiring urgent surgical decompression. A modification of the Allen® spinal table allowed safe prone positioning with minimal maternal or fetal compromise whilst ensuring adequate surgical access to the lumbar spine. We have shown that patients in advanced pregnancy needing surgical intervention can be safely anaesthetised and positioned prone for their spinal surgery following careful planning and multidisciplinary teamwork.