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A one‑year snapshot of pediatric regional anesthesia at a French Tertiary University Hospital

Chrystelle Sola1, Julien Pico2, Kevin Chapron2

  • 1Department of Maternal, Child and Women's Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Anesthesia Unit, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France; Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France.

Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine
|May 31, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric regional anesthesia (RA) is widely used, with ultrasound guidance standard for peripheral blocks. However, pre-puncture scanning for neuraxial techniques needs improvement, indicating areas for enhanced pediatric pain management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Regional Anesthesia
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Regional anesthesia (RA) is crucial for pediatric perioperative analgesia.
  • Significant variability exists in pediatric RA practices globally.
  • Current global practice patterns for pediatric RA are underreported.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize current regional anesthesia practices in a French pediatric anesthesia department.
  • To analyze demographics, surgical details, RA techniques, guidance, and pharmacologic agents used.
  • To identify trends and potential areas for improvement in pediatric RA.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data over one year.
  • Inclusion of all children aged 0-18 years undergoing at least one RA procedure.
  • Data analysis included demographics, surgical characteristics, RA techniques, guidance methods, and pharmacologic agents.

Main Results:

  • 1,073 RA procedures in 907 patients; 83% peripheral blocks, 17% neuraxial blocks.
  • Ultrasound guidance used in 98% of peripheral blocks; pre-puncture scanning in 22% of neuraxial procedures.
  • Clonidine used as an adjuvant in over 60% of cases; selective neuraxial strategies in infants.

Conclusions:

  • High implementation rates of RA in pediatric anesthesia observed.
  • Ultrasound guidance is standard for peripheral blocks, but neuraxial pre-puncture scanning has room for improvement.
  • Findings support the feasibility of RA in daily pediatric practice and advocate for multicenter studies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonistNeuraxial anesthesiaPediatric anesthesiaPeripheral nerve blockRegional anesthesiaUltrasound

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