BACKGROUND:

Arnold-Chiari disease is a rare congenital malformation of the central nervous system, characterized by descent of the cerebellum below 5 mm from the level of the foramen magnum, with or without associated syringomyelia (types I or II). The average age at which type I disease is detected is 40 years. It is more frequent in women with a 3:1 ratio. Its manifestations are occipital headache (70-90%), neuropathic pain of cervical segments (40-70%); hyperreflexia of lower extremities (51%); atrophy of hands (35%) and paresis of upper (35%) and lower extremities (17%). Diagnosis is established based on magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the anesthetic-obstetric behavior in a pregnant patient and the risk of complications derived from physiological and gestational changes.

CLINICAL CASE:

30-year-old patient, 38 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with Arnold-Chiari disease type I, with adequate neurological and obstetric control and satisfactory evolution. The pregnancy was terminated by delivery.

CONCLUSIONS:

The medical care of the patient in the case was adequate because no complications were recorded, and it was possible to discharge her from the hospital in a very short time.