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Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injury in Mice
Published on: March 25, 2022
Safety Assessment of Prolonged Nerve Catheters in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Case Series Study
Nicole Verdecchia1, Alexander Praslick1, Mihaela Visoiu1
1Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
Introduction:
Nerve block catheters (NBCs) are increasingly used for pain management in pediatric trauma patients. While short-term efficacy has been well established, the long-term safety of NBCs is unknown. Methods/Cases: The retrospective chart review includes a cohort of nine pediatric trauma patients aged 3-15 years who received 52 peripheral nerve block catheters and epidurals for pain management. This study aimed to investigate the potential risks associated with the prolonged use of NBCs in pediatric trauma cases.
Results:
The NBCs (48 peripheral catheters and 4 epidural catheters) were maintained for about 2 weeks. The number of catheters per patient varied from 1 to 11. The study noted a low frequency of catheter-related complications. No catheter-site infection or local anesthetic toxicity symptoms were reported.
Discussion:
These findings suggest that NBCs can be safely maintained for extended periods in pediatric trauma patients without significantly increasing complications. Careful monitoring and adherence to infection control practices remain paramount when implementing extended catheter use.
