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Unexplained fever after bilateral superficial cervical block in children undergoing cochlear implantation: an

Mazin Merdad1, Mark Crawford, Karen Gordon

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. mazin.merdad@utoronto.ca

Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'Anesthesie
|November 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) in children undergoing cochlear implantation may increase the risk of postoperative fever and prolong hospital stays. Further research is needed to understand the exact cause of this fever.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is used in pediatric patients undergoing bilateral simultaneous cochlear implantation (BSiCI) to reduce opioid use.
  • Early postoperative fever has been observed in children following BSiCI after the adoption of BSCPB.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if there is an association between BSCPB and early postoperative fever in children undergoing BSiCI.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of BSCPB in reducing postoperative analgesic requirements.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 91 children who underwent BSiCI.
  • The study compared 34 patients who received BSCPB (Block Group) with 57 patients who did not (No-block Group).

Main Results:

  • A significant association was found between BSCPB and postoperative fever (P = 0.006).
  • Children in the Block Group were 4.8 times more likely to develop fever (35% vs 11%).
  • The Block Group also experienced longer hospital admissions (P = 0.043).

Conclusions:

  • BSCPB may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative fever in children undergoing BSiCI.
  • The study suggests BSCPB might lead to longer hospital stays.
  • The exact cause of fever is undetermined but may involve phrenic nerve blockade.
Abstract

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