RESPIRATORY ARREST FOLLOWING INTRATHECAL INJECTION OF SUFENTANIL AND BUPIVACAINE IN A PARTURIENT

Purpose: To present a case of respiratory arrest following the use of intrathecal sufentanil and bupivacaine for combined spinal-epidural an aesthesia in a healthy labouring parturient. Clinical Features: A 20-y r-old term parturient received 10 mu g sufentanil and 2.5 mg bupivacai ne intrathecally as part of a combined spinal-epidural technique for l abour analgesia. She had received no previous analgesics. Twenty-three minutes after the intrathecal injection she became unresponsive and s uffered a respiratory arrest. Resuscitation included manual bag/mask v entilation with oxygen and intravenous naloxone. Conclusion: Respirato ry arrest is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication asso ciated with the use of intrathecal opioids for labour analgesia. Vigil ance in post-procedure patient monitoring is imperative.