Tet spells in a parturient woman with uncorrected tetralogy of fallot undergoing cesarean delivery

Abstract

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common, cyanotic congenital heart disease. The hemodynamic changes during pregnancy, with uncorrected TOF, result in serious, life-threatening complications for both patient and baby. The authors report on the successful anesthetic management of a 26-year-old parturient women. The patient was at a gestational age of 33 weeks, with uncorrected TOF. After undergoing a cesarean delivery, she developed intraoperative hypoxia after delivery. We postulated that the patient developed hypoxic Tet spells from hypovolemia, resulting from postpartum bleeding as well as a decrease in her systemic vascular resistance from oxytocin. A multidisciplinary team approach and invasive intraoperative monitoring together with meticulous anesthetic management, were essential for this patient.