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Updates on neurologic complications in pediatric regional anesthesia

Yeona Chun1, Mitchell Phillips2, Santhanam Suresh1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Minerva Anestesiologica
|September 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Regional anesthesia offers safe pain relief for children, comparable to adults. Large studies show pediatric regional blocks are effective and reduce fears of neurologic injury, making them a viable option.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Regional anesthesia is increasingly used for multimodal analgesia.
  • Concerns exist regarding neurologic complications in pediatric patients undergoing regional blocks.
  • Existing literature includes limited case reports but lacks comprehensive safety data for pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on neurologic complications associated with regional anesthesia in pediatric patients.
  • To assess the overall safety and efficacy of regional blocks in children.
  • To address anesthesiologists' fears regarding pediatric regional anesthesia.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of relevant literature.
  • Analysis of large databases and case reports.
  • Focus on neurologic complications and safety profiles.

Main Results:

  • Large database reviews indicate a safety profile for pediatric regional anesthesia comparable to adults.
  • Evidence suggests regional anesthesia is a useful and safe modality for pediatric pain management.
  • Despite fears, major neurologic injuries are rare in pediatric regional anesthesia.

Conclusions:

  • Regional anesthesia is a safe and effective option for pediatric analgesia.
  • The safety of pediatric regional anesthesia is supported by large-scale data.
  • This review aims to alleviate concerns and promote the use of regional blocks in pediatric patients.

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