A 28 year-old woman at full-term pregnancy became a candidate for cesarean section because of dystocia cause by fetal malposition.

 According to clinical standards, she was about 50 pounds overweight.

 General anesthesia was chosen for the surgical procedure.

 Definition: Dystocia: difficult labor caused by the contraction of an area of circular muscle fibers, which may occur in various levels of the parturient uterus.

Case author: Hugh S. Mathewson, M.D., Professor Emeritus, School of Allied Health, Department of Nurse Anesthesia, University of Kansas Medical Center
case editor: Michael Gordon, Ph.D.