Spinal anesthesia in an infant with epidermolysis bullosa

Spinal anesthesia in infants and children: A one year prospective audit

Context and Aims:

Spinal anesthesia though gaining popularity in children, the misconceptions regarding its safety and feasibility can be better known with greater use and experience. The objective of this study was to evaluate the success rate, complications and hemodynamic stability related to pediatric spinal anesthesia.

Materials and Methods:

In this 1-year prospective study, 102 pediatric patients aged 6 months to 14 years undergoing infraumbilical and lower extremity surgery were included. Spinal anesthesia was administered using hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (for child < 5 kg), 0.4 mg/kg (for 5-15 kg), 0.3 mg/kg (for >15 kg) in L4-L5 space under all aseptic precautions after sedation. Demographic data, vital parameters, supplemental sedation, number of attempts for lumbar puncture, sensory-motor block characteristics, and complications were noted.

Results:

Spinal anesthesia was successful in 98 (97.1%) patients. Remaining 4 (3.9%) were failures and were given general anesthesia. Lumbar puncture was successful in first attempt (60 [58.82%]) or 2^nd attempt (42 [41.18%]). There was no significant change in vital parameters. Mean peak sensory level was T 6.35 ± 1.20 (T4-T8). Mean sensory level at the end of surgery was T 8.11 ± 1.42 (T6-T10). Modified Bromage score was 3 in 98 (96.08%) patients. Sensory and motor block recovery was complete in all patients. Mean time to two segment regression was 43.97 ± 10.72 (30-70) min. Mean time to return Bromage score to 0 was 111.95 ± 20.54 (70-160). Mean duration of surgery was 52.5 ± 16.056 (25-95) min. Incidence of complications was minimal with hypotension occurring in 2 (2%) and shivering in 3 (2.9%) patients.

Conclusion:

Pediatric spinal anesthesia is a safe and effective anesthetic technique for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries of shorter duration (<90 min) with high success rate. Owing to, its early motor recovery, it can be a preferred technique for day case surgeries in the pediatric population.

Anesthesia and pain management for pediatric patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To review anesthesia and pain management in pediatric patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University-affiliated pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

25 pediatric patients with RDEB had a total of 121 surgical procedures.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Pediatric patients with RDEB could have vesicles and bullae formation in the skin in response to trauma, friction, or pressure. The common surgical procedures for patients with RDEB were balloon dilation of esophageal strictures (38%), pseudosyndactyly release with or without skin graft (27%), postsurgical or skin care related dressing changes (21%), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement (8%), and circumcision (2%). Our anesthetic techniques included general inhalational anesthesia using mask (21%), general anesthesia using endotracheal tube (48%), and intravenous sedation (31%). No death or other major perioperative anesthetic complications occurred in these reported cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RDEB can present considerable management issues for the anesthesiologists. Anesthesia and pain management can be carefully delivered with proper preoperative evaluation and preparation for pediatric patients with RDEB.

Spinal anaesthesia in a patient with epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica

An adult patient with epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica underwent uneventful spinal anaesthesia. Insertion of a Quincke spinal needle proved easier and produced less skin distortion than insertion of a pencil-point spinal needle. Taping of intravenous lines is an alternative to the more usually recommended approach of suturing.