Regional anesthesia in pediatric patients is a safe modality with a level of safety regarding neurologic complications comparable to that in adult patients.
Is regional anesthesia safe regarding neurologic complications in pediatric patients?
Regional anesthesia is a safe modality in pediatric patients with a safety profile comparable to adults, despite concerns regarding neurologic complications.
Regional anesthesia has grown in popularity as a multimodal approach to analgesia. However, some anesthesiologists are fearful of regional blocks in pediatric patients as most require general anesthesia. One of the most alarming complications is neurologic injury. While there are limited case reports regarding the devastating neurologic injuries in pediatric patients, review of large databases has shown a level of safety in pediatric regional anesthesia that is comparable to that in adult patients. This review aimed to provide an update on the relevant literature regarding neurologic complications and the safety of regional blocks in pediatric patients. These large data sets have confirmed that regional anesthesia is a useful and safe modality in pediatric patients.
Chun et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Pediatric patients requiring regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia vs. Adult patients (historical/database comparison) was evaluated on Neurologic complications and safety. Regional anesthesia in pediatric patients is a safe modality with a level of safety regarding neurologic complications comparable to that in adult patients.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: