Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
03:22

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion

Published on: November 10, 2023

A service evaluation of regional anaesthesia utilisation in an Irish paediatric tertiary referral centre

Christopher O'Loughlin1, Eamonn Coleman2, Hilary Leeson2

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, Childrens Health Ireland, Crumlin Childrens Hospital, Dublin, D12 N512, Ireland. oloughch@tcd.ie.

Irish Journal of Medical Science
|June 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric regional anaesthesia (RA) use was audited, with 19.1% of patients receiving RA. This study establishes a benchmark for RA practice in children, supporting quality improvement initiatives.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management
  • Surgical Outcomes

Background:

  • Regional anesthesia (RA) is a safe and effective method for pediatric peri-operative pain management.
  • RA use is variable, and establishing benchmarks for its application is difficult.
  • Improved outcomes and reduced opioid use are associated with pediatric RA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To audit regional anesthesia (RA) practice in a tertiary pediatric center.
  • To determine the utilization rate of RA in pediatric surgical patients.
  • To establish a local benchmark for pediatric RA.

Main Methods:

  • A 28-day retrospective audit of all anesthesiologist-performed regional blocks was conducted.
  • Surgical cases unsuitable for RA were excluded from the primary analysis.
  • The proportion of patients receiving RA was the primary outcome measure.

Main Results:

  • Out of 491 patients, 94 (19.1%) received RA, increasing to 20.8% after excluding unsuitable cases.
  • A total of 117 blocks were performed: 86 peripheral (73.5%) and 31 central (26.5%).
  • Peripheral blocks included lower limb, truncal/craniofacial, and upper limb; central blocks included caudal, epidural, and paravertebral.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric RA utilization in this institution aligns with European data.
  • The study establishes a local benchmark for RA practice in children.
  • Findings support continuous audit and quality improvement in pediatric anesthesia.
Abstract

Keywords:
AuditNerve blockPaediatric anaesthesiaPerioperative painRegional anaesthesia

More Related Videos

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex06:04

Objective Nociceptive Assessment in Ventilated ICU Patients: A Feasibility Study Using Pupillometry and the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex

Published on: July 4, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.