A Single Center's Experience With Spinal Anesthesia for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Regional Anesthesia Techniques
• Surgical Patient Outcomes

Background:

• General anesthesia in pediatric patients can be associated with risks.
• Spinal anesthesia offers a potential alternative for specific pediatric surgical procedures.
• Evaluating the safety and efficacy of spinal anesthesia in children is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the use of spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia in pediatric surgical patients at a single institution.
• To report the success rate, intraoperative complications, and postoperative outcomes of spinal anesthesia.
• To assess unplanned hospital admissions and emergency department visits within seven days post-procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who received spinal anesthesia between 2016 and 2022.
• Data collection included patient demographics, procedure details, anesthetic characteristics, and complications.
• Analysis of intraoperative events, unplanned admissions, and emergency department returns.

Main Results:

• 1221 pediatric patients were included in the study.
• 92% of procedures were completed without conversion to general anesthesia.
• Low incidence of intraoperative events (14% mild hypotension) and no serious adverse events were observed. 72% bypassed Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Phase I.

Conclusions:

• Spinal anesthesia is a viable and versatile option for various pediatric surgical procedures.
• A low incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications was observed.
• Spinal anesthesia presents potential advantages over general anesthesia in pediatric patients, particularly in ambulatory settings.