Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia
03:14

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

Spinal anaesthesia in paediatric patients

Franco Puncuh1, Elisabetta Lampugnani, Hannu Kokki

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, IRCCS G.Gaslini Children's Hospital Genoa, Italy. franco.punuch@fastwebnet.it

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|March 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Spinal anesthesia is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for pediatric patients, especially neonates at risk for breathing issues. Recent advancements make this technique more accessible for a wider range of pediatric surgeries.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Regional Anesthesia Techniques
  • Perioperative Medicine

Background:

  • Spinal anesthesia is infrequently used in pediatric patients.
  • It is primarily considered for former preterm newborns and infants with high perioperative apnea risk.
  • Evidence suggests spinal anesthesia may be a suitable alternative to general anesthesia in children, similar to adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on pediatric spinal anesthesia.
  • To define the limits and advantages of spinal anesthesia across all pediatric age groups.
  • To evaluate its application in both routine and emergency pediatric surgeries.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on pediatric spinal anesthesia.
  • Focus on current techniques, drug choices, and dosages.
  • Analysis of available databases and clinical practice data.

Main Results:

  • New anesthetic drugs and adjuvants enhance suitability of spinal anesthesia.
  • Improved understanding of anesthetic spread modalities contributes to technique refinement.
  • Larger available databases support the feasibility of pediatric spinal anesthesia.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric spinal anesthesia is becoming a more practical option for many anesthesiologists.
  • The technique's applicability extends to various pediatric age groups and surgical settings.
  • Further review is needed to fully delineate its benefits and limitations.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery09:47

Anesthesia and Intubation of Preadolescent Mouse Pups for Cardiothoracic Surgery

Published on: June 2, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...