Meningitis after obstetric spinal anaesthesia

Abstract

A case of meningitis after obstetric spinal anaesthesia is reported. The possible aetiological causes of postspinal meningitis are discussed and the difficulty in differentiation between aseptic and bacterial meningitis noted. Ways to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination of cerebrospinal fluid are mentioned. The patient in this case made a full recovery, but the use of spinal anaesthesia in these patients is open to question. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved