Summary
Background
Spinal anesthesia (SA) is an effective technique that has been used in children for
years. With growing concern with regard to the risks of general anesthesia (GA), we
developed a SA program to provide an alternative option. We present our initial experience
with this program.
Objective
To implement a SA program at a large tertiary care pediatric center and assess the
safety and efficacy of the technique as an alternative to GA for urologic surgery.
Study design/methods
We prospectively collected data on all children undergoing SA at our institution.
We recorded demographics, procedure, time required for placement of the SA, length
of surgery, success of lumbar puncture, success of attaining adequate surgical anesthesia,
need for supplemental systemic sedation, conversion to GA, and perioperative complications.
Results
SA was attempted in 105 consecutive children (104 boys, 1 girl) with a mean age of
7.4 ± 4.3 months (range 19 days–24 months) and mean weight of 8.3 ± 1.7 kg (range
3.5–13.7). Placement of the SA was successful in 93/105 children (89%). Inability
to achieve lumbar puncture (cerebrospinal fluid was not obtained) meant that SA was
abandoned in seven (7%) patients and GA was administered. In five patients in whom
SA was successful and surgery was begun, 5/93 (5%) required conversion to GA: two
because of evisceration of intestine through large hernia defects related to coughing
and abdominal irritation, two because of lack of motor blockade despite an adequate
sensory block, and one because of an inability to place an intravenous catheter in
the lower extremities (required per SA protocol). If necessary, an intravenous catheter
can be placed in the upper extremity, but this must be weighed against the fact that
the block has already been placed and is of limited duration. Overall, SA was successful
(SA was placed and surgery was completed without conversion to GA) in 88/105 children
(84%). No additional sedation and no systemic anesthetic agents were required in 75/88
children (85%). The average time required to place the SA was 3.8 ± 2.7 min (range
1–12). The average time for the surgical procedure was 38.3 ± 23.1 min (range 10–122).
No patient required conversion to GA because of recession of block. There were no
surgical complications.
Discussion/conclusions
SA is a safe and efficacious technique for routine pediatric urological procedures.
SA should be considered for cases such as neonatal torsion or patients with significant
cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities when the risks of GA are often weighed against
the risks of non-intervention.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 14, 2017
Accepted:
June 23,
2017
Received:
January 6,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
