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Case Reports: Rare disease
Management of cauda equina syndrome during pregnancy and postpartum
  1. Amanda Vakos1,
  2. Kathryn Dean1,
  3. Callie Reeder2 and
  4. Adetola Louis-Jacques2
  1. 1University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
  2. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Adetola Louis-Jacques; adetolalouisjacques{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a rare condition that occurs from multiple nerve root compression. It is considered a surgical emergency because it can lead to permanent neurological damage. There is limited literature regarding management and prognosis of CES for pregnant patients, leaving providers with many questions when encountering patients with this condition. We describe the case of a patient who developed CES during pregnancy. She presented at 30 weeks gestation and successfully underwent surgical decompression in prone position. She later delivered via elective caesarean at term. This case highlights management considerations for pregnant patients with CES, including positioning during surgery and use of regional anaesthesia.

  • Neurological injury
  • Spinal cord
  • Pregnancy

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-238793

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors AV, KD: planning, conduct, reporting of the work, writing the original draft. CR: conduct, manuscript review and editing. AL-J: planning, conduct, reporting of the work, manuscript review and editing, supervision.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.