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6 - Parturients of short stature

from Section 2 - Musculoskeletal disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

By
Andrea J. Fuller ,
Sheila E. Cohen  and
Emily F. Ratner
Edited by
David R. Gambling ,
M. Joanne Douglas  and
Robert S. F. McKay
Andrea J. Fuller
Affiliation:
Northern Colorado Anesthesia, Professional Consultants, Staff Physician, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Sheila E. Cohen
Affiliation:
Professor of Anesthesia and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
Emily F. Ratner
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Co-Director, Division of Medical Acupuncture, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
David R. Gambling
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
M. Joanne Douglas
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Robert S. F. McKay
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
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Summary

Introduction

Dwarfism is defined as failure to achieve a height of 4 feet 10 inches (148 cm) at adulthood. Short stature is a clinical entity that has numerous etiologies. These conditions can be of genetic, constitutional, or metabolic origin. There are more than 100 different types of dwarfism, none of which is very common. The most common variety, achondroplasia, occurs in only 0.5 to 1.5 per 10,000 live births. Two major classifications of dwarfism are especially useful to the anesthesiologist: (1) patients with short stature who are proportionate and have normal trunk-to-limb ratio, and (2) patients who have disproportionate growth and have either short trunks in relation to their limbs or short limbs in relation to their trunks. (see Table 6.1). There are women at the lower extreme of height in some cultures who would meet the definition of dwarfism but who have no medical pathology. Their treatment must be individualized bearing in mind that they may be similar in some respects to parturients with proportionate dwarfism.

Since the formation of the Little People of America, a society for people of short stature, and even dedicated online dating services, much greater opportunity exists for dwarfs to meet, socialize, and eventually have children. In addition, increased use of assisted reproductive technology is enabling women of short stature who were otherwise infertile to achieve pregnancy and even multiple gestations.

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Obstetric Anesthesia and Uncommon Disorders , pp. 115 - 128
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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  • Parturients of short stature
    • By Andrea J. Fuller, Northern Colorado Anesthesia, Professional Consultants, Staff Physician, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Sheila E. Cohen, Professor of Anesthesia and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA, Emily F. Ratner, Associate Professor, Co-Director, Division of Medical Acupuncture, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
  • Edited by David R. Gambling, University of California, San Diego, M. Joanne Douglas, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Robert S. F. McKay, University of Kansas
  • Book: Obstetric Anesthesia and Uncommon Disorders
  • Online publication: 19 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544552.007
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  • Parturients of short stature
    • By Andrea J. Fuller, Northern Colorado Anesthesia, Professional Consultants, Staff Physician, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Sheila E. Cohen, Professor of Anesthesia and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA, Emily F. Ratner, Associate Professor, Co-Director, Division of Medical Acupuncture, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
  • Edited by David R. Gambling, University of California, San Diego, M. Joanne Douglas, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Robert S. F. McKay, University of Kansas
  • Book: Obstetric Anesthesia and Uncommon Disorders
  • Online publication: 19 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544552.007
Available formats
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  • Parturients of short stature
    • By Andrea J. Fuller, Northern Colorado Anesthesia, Professional Consultants, Staff Physician, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Sheila E. Cohen, Professor of Anesthesia and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA, Emily F. Ratner, Associate Professor, Co-Director, Division of Medical Acupuncture, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
  • Edited by David R. Gambling, University of California, San Diego, M. Joanne Douglas, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Robert S. F. McKay, University of Kansas
  • Book: Obstetric Anesthesia and Uncommon Disorders
  • Online publication: 19 October 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544552.007
Available formats
×