Error Traps in Infant Spinal Anesthesia

Infant spinal anesthesia is a viable alternative to general anesthesia for short procedures below the upper abdomen. It provides a hemodynamically stable anesthetic technique that avoids airway manipulation and associated respiratory complications. Spinal anesthesia allows surgery to be performed without inhaled anesthetic agents or, in certain cases, opioids. This manuscript highlights five preventable perioperative error traps that may occur while performing infant spinal anesthesia with the goal of providing expert clinical guidance for the provision of safe, effective, and efficient spinal anesthesia in pediatric patients.