Implications for anaesthesia in a patient established on clozapine treatment

Abstract

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent with a novel pharmacological profile and multiple clinical properties. Because of its side effects, it is recommended in treatment of severe resistant schizophrenia for which purpose it is remarkably effective. Little is known about the safety profile of clozapine during pregnancy and labour and because it is now used more commonly to manage schizophrenia, it is important that we as anaesthetists are aware of its many interactions and potential side effects. We present a case of a successful emergency caesarean section in a schizophrenic patient on clozapine treatment. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.