[Herniotomy in a former preterm infant. Which anaesthetic is best?]

Former preterm infants with postconceptual age <50-60 weeks are at risk of postoperative apnea and bradycardia when operated under general anaesthesia. In addition, after general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation preterm infants, who had suffered from severe respiratory distress syndrome, often require prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation. Pure regional anaesthetic techniques can avoid most of these postoperative respiratory complications. Spinal anaesthesia has been used extensively so far. Recently, pure caudal anaesthesia for this indication has become a promising alternative. If a pure regional anaesthesia technique is not indicated or feasable, the combination of light inhalational anaesthesia with a caudal block seems appropriate. Overnight cardiorespiratory monitoring is mandatory in these patients regardless of the anaesthetic technique used.