Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Author Spotlight: Establishing a Practical and Cost-Effective Protocol for Corneal Sensitivity Testing in Clinical Settings
04:00

Author Spotlight: Establishing a Practical and Cost-Effective Protocol for Corneal Sensitivity Testing in Clinical Settings

Published on: August 2, 2024

3.1K

Loss of Corneal Reflex in Children Undergoing Spinal Anesthesia: A Case Series

Ashlee E Holman1, Michael P Puglia

  • 1From the Department of Anesthesiology, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A&A Practice
|November 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Spinal anesthesia in children may cause unexpected reflex loss, even with proper dosage. This case series suggests a potential impact on pediatric brain dynamics during anesthesia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Spinal anesthesia is a safe alternative to general anesthesia for pediatric procedures.
  • It is commonly used for lower abdominal surgeries in children.

Observation:

  • Four children undergoing spinal anesthesia exhibited loss of corneal and eyelash reflexes.
  • Stimulation elicited vocalization, eye constriction, and limb movement, inconsistent with excessive anesthesia.

Findings:

  • The observed reflex loss may not solely be due to high spinal anesthesia levels.
  • Pediatric brain dynamics under spinal anesthesia require further investigation.

Implications:

  • This highlights a potential knowledge gap regarding spinal anesthesia's effects on pediatric brain activity.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these observed neurological responses.

More Related Videos

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex06:04

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex

Published on: July 4, 2018

9.2K
Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents10:10

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents

Published on: February 15, 2022

1.8K

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...
1.2K
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
4.5K
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...
649
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects01:12

Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects

While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
719
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
1.3K