Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange for Preoxygenation Before Cesarean Delivery Under General Anesthesia: A Case Report.

Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange has been shown to improve oxygenation and increase apnea time in difficult airway cases. It may also be beneficial in patients vulnerable to rapid desaturation due to limited pulmonary reserve. We report the use of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange for preoxygenation before a cesarean delivery under general anesthesia in a patient with respiratory distress because of pneumonia and heart failure from severe mitral stenosis. To our knowledge, the use of this technique has not been previously reported in pregnant patients.