Failure of epidural analgesia converted to epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a patient with bronchial atresia in labor.

Bronchial atresia is a rare anomaly characterized generally by obstruction in the bronchial system, mucus accumulation, emphysematous changes and bulla formation in the peripheral lung. Regional anesthesia is the choice for cesarean delivery in a parturient patient with this anomaly. We report a patient with a diagnosis of bronchial atresia in whom the conversion of epidural analgesia to epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery failed during labor, needing the application of general anesthesia for a successful delivery.