Spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants

Summary Spinal anaesthesia for herniotomies in former preterm infants at risk from postoperative apnoea was investigated in a prospective, uncontrolled study involving 164 infants. Hyperbaric tetracaine (0.5 mg·kg−1) with adrenaline was used. In 152 patients (92.7%) spinal blockade was achieved, in 12 (7.3%) general anaesthesia was given after unsuccessful lumbar puncture. Fifteen patients required supplementation of spinal anaesthesia. Intraoperative complications included 2 apnoea during lumbar puncture and 5 total spinal blocks. By the end of surgery all complications had been resolved. No patient with spinal anaesthesia developed prolonged apnoea after surgery. Spinal anaesthesia in former preterm infants seems to avoid prolonged postoperative apnoea. Disadvantages of the technique were failures due to technical difficulties and excessive spread of spinal blockade.