EXPERTS’ OPINION   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2021 June;87(6):695-703

DOI: 10.23736/S0375-9393.20.14636-4

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Updates on neurologic complications in pediatric regional anesthesia

Yeona CHUN, Mitchell PHILLIPS ✉, Santhanam SURESH

Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

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.

KEY WORDS: Anesthesia, local; Toxicity; Nerve block; Adverse effects; Analgesia, epidural; Patient safety