ABSTRACT
Kyphoscoliosis is a disease manifested as lateral curvature of spine and accompanying rotation of the vertebrae, resulting in distortion of rib cage. A curve greater than 40 degrees in considerd to be severe and most likely to be associated with physiologic derangements in cardiac and pulmonary function. Restrictive lung disease and pulmonary hypertension progressing to cor pulmonale are the major causes of mortality in patients with kyphoscoliosis. However, pregnancy itself increases cardiac output and circulating blood volume, and decreases total lung capacity due to enlarged uterus. So tidal volume is increased in pregnant women to compensate. But in kyphoscoliosis patients pulmonary fucntion is already impaired and cardiovascular reserve is minimal. So there is increasing tendency in actue cor pulmonale. Recently we experienced a case of cesarean section in patient with kyphoscoliosis, and observed severe hemodynamic changes especially in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac output. And we investigated 7 cases of cesarean section of patients with kyposcoliosis.