Anesthesia and Critical Care Reviews and Commentary (ACCRAC) Podcast Episode 324: Master Clinician Part 10: Dr. Bridget Marroquin
Dec 28, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Bridget Marroquin, an OB anesthesiologist and Associate Professor at UNC, shares her unique journey from OB/Gyn to anesthesiology. She emphasizes the importance of a 'planning-for-worst' mindset in OB anesthesia and offers practical troubleshooting tips for epidurals. Dr. Marroquin advocates for clear communication in labor and delivery settings and highlights the need for fostering collaborative relationships. She also discusses future trends in OB anesthesia, including subspecialty overlaps and the pursuit of fulfilling careers.
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Plan For The Worst In OB
- Treat every OB patient as potentially needing urgent anesthetic care and prepare accordingly.
- Replace or top up epidurals early rather than waiting for failure to avoid crises.
Stepwise Approach To One‑Sided Epidurals
- Troubleshoot unilateral epidurals with volume first, then small catheter pullbacks before replacing.
- Replace the catheter if you cannot maintain >3 cm space after adjustments.
High Spinal During CSE Conversion
- Bridget describes her only high spinal after converting an epidural to a CSE, causing transient respiratory inability but stable hemodynamics.
- She supported the patient with mask ventilation and kept her awake while the block receded over ~8–9 minutes.