Anesthetic management for a combined cesarean section and posterior fossa craniectomy

A 33-year-old primigravida presented with intracranial tumor during the third trimester of pregnancy. She underwent a ventriculoatrial shunt and a combined cesarean section and posterior fossa craniectomy during this period. The neuroanesthetic requirement for this patient is prevention of rise in intracranial pressure with a slow and smooth induction and maintenance. Cesarean section demands rapid induction with minimum anesthetic until the delivery of the baby. Achieving these contradictory requirements at the same time can be challenging to an anesthesiologist. We report the anesthetic management of this patient during the above surgical procedures. Perioperative management of such patients with regard to use of uterine stimulants and prevention of venous stasis also are discussed.