Prolonged paresis in a primigravida during and after caesarean section.

A primigravida, who had a Caesarean section because of cervical dystocia and relative cephalo-pelvic disproportion, in Nov. 1988 in Yekatit 12 Hospital, Addis Ababa, remained relaxed and without spontaneous respiration for about four hours after the completion of the operation, requiring assisted respiration. This condition is the result of a decreased plasma cholinesterase (PCE) activity which is responsible for the breaking down of succinylcholine used in general anaesthesia as a muscle relaxant. Although the incidence of PCE deficiency in our population is not known, it should be remembered that such a complication may be seen in hospitals where operations are carried out using succinylcholine as a muscle relaxant.