[Painless delivery under lumbar epidural anesthesia for a pregnant woman with syncope caused by paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia].

A 32-year-old pregnant woman complained of palpitation and syncope caused by paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. The electrophysiological study was normal. The evidence that catecholamines were extremely increased in urine suggested that this arrhythmia resulted from imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Medication by beta-blocking drugs during pregnancy decreased the frequency of ventricular tachycardia. In order to avoid the increase of catecholamines during the delivery, lumbar epidural anesthesia was administered, which resulted in painless vaginal delivery and impeded the attack of ventricular tachycardia. Although the baby was small for date, fortunately he was delivered normally.