High-flow nasal cannula and Kartagener's syndrome in a patient with in vitro fertilization conception

• Author Details:   
• Shanmugavalli Mariappan ^*
• Gopalakrishnan Panneer Selvam
• Arimanickam Ganesamoorthi
• Gayathri Lakshmipathy
• Nirmala Rajagopal

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Kartagener's syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a triad of situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. It is typically diagnosed during childhood and is caused by a defect in the ultrastructure of the microtubules in epithelial ciliated cells, which leads to impaired ciliary function. This impairment results in recurrent bronchitis, sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. A significant concern associated with this syndrome is the increased susceptibility to infections, particularly of the pulmonary system during anesthesia. We present the anesthetic management of a 43-year-old primigravida who conceived via in vitro fertilization and was currently 29 weeks pregnant with twins. She was under regular follow-up for known Kartagener's syndrome and presented for an emergency lower segment cesarean section.