Continuous peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia in children: feasibility and side effects in a cohort study of 339 catheters.

Introduction: Perioperative continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) are increasingly being used in children. Only one previous study has reported adverse events of CPNB in a high number of pediatric cases. We evaluated the indications, block efficacy, and adverse events related to CPNB in children.

A review of pediatric regional anesthesia practice during a 17-year period in a single institution.

Background: There is anecdotal evidence of changes in pediatric regional anesthesia (RA) practice. We performed a retrospective review of prospective data on pediatric RA over 17 years in our institution.

Methods: Data were collected from an electronic database for every anesthetic performed between 1989 and 2005.

Clonidine added to bupivacaine in neonatal spinal anesthesia: a prospective comparison in 124 preterm and term infants.

Background: Spinal anesthesia (SA) remains the 'gold standard' in neonatal anesthesia for inguinal herniorrhaphy but its short duration impedes its usefulness. We previously demonstrated that clonidine prolongs neonatal SA without immediate side effects.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of 124 infants undergoing herniorrhaphy under SA with bupivacaine and clonidine.

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks at home for treatment of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I in children.

Background: Recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I is not rare in the pediatric population. The authors conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of continuous peripheral nerve blocks with elastomeric disposable pumps associated with initial Bier blocks for the treatment of recurrent complex regional pain syndrome I in children.

Methods: After parental informed consent, 13 children who did not respond to conventional complex regional pain syndrome treatment were included (mean age, 13 yr; range, 9-16 yr).

Clonidine prolongs spinal anesthesia in newborns: a prospective dose-ranging study.

Unlabelled: Spinal anesthesia may reduce the incidence of morbidity that follows general anesthesia in neonates and in former preterm infants. However, bupivacaine alone provides a block too short for complete surgery in up to 40% of the patients. Clonidine lengthens spinal anesthesia in adults and caudal block in children without significant side effects.

Perioperative continuous peripheral nerve blocks with disposable infusion pumps in children: a prospective descriptive study.

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) after pediatric major orthopedic surgery are not widely used. We conducted a prospective descriptive study to evaluate the effectiveness of disposable elastomeric pumps for CPNB in children. After inducing general anesthesia, 25 consecutive children scheduled for major orthopedic surgery received a 0.