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Head and neck blocks in children

Polina Voronov1, Santhanam Suresh

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|May 7, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Regional anesthesia offers effective pain relief for pediatric head and neck surgery. Its increased use in children improves postoperative outcomes and reduces the need for additional analgesics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Regional Anesthesia Techniques
  • Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

  • Head and neck surgery in infants and children presents unique challenges for pain management.
  • Traditional analgesia may be associated with significant side effects in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current technology and literature on regional anesthesia for pediatric head and neck surgery.
  • To highlight the growing application and benefits of regional blocks in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of prospective randomized trials and case reports.
  • Analysis of anatomical distribution of sensory nerves in the head and neck relevant to regional blocks.

Main Results:

  • Regional anesthesia techniques are applicable to a wide range of pediatric head and neck procedures.
  • Evidence from trials demonstrates the efficacy of these blocks for postoperative pain control in children.
  • There is a significant increase in the utilization of regional anesthesia for pediatric pain management.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding head and neck anatomy, including trigeminal nerve and cervical nerve roots, is crucial for effective regional block application.
  • Increased use of regional anesthesia can reduce reliance on systemic analgesics, facilitating faster patient recovery.
  • Regional anesthesia contributes to decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting, improving patient outcomes.
Abstract

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