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Heydinger G, Roth C, Kidwell R, Tobias JD, Veneziano G, Jayanthi VR, Whitaker EE, Thung AK. A Single Center's Experience With Spinal Anesthesia for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures. J Pediatr Surg 2024; 59:1148-1153. [PMID: 38418274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To perform a single institution review of spinal instead of general anesthesia for pediatric patients undergoing surgical procedures. Spinal success rate, intraoperative complications, and postoperative outcomes including unplanned hospital admission and emergency department visits within seven days are reported. METHODS Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who underwent spinal anesthesia for surgical procedures from 2016 until 2022. Data collected included patient demographics, procedure and anesthetic characteristics, intraoperative complications, unplanned admissions, and emergency department returns. RESULTS The study cohort included 1221 patients. Ninety-two percent of the patients tolerated their surgical procedure without requiring conversion to general anesthesia, and 78% of patients that had spinals placed successfully did not receive any sedation following lumbar puncture. The most common intraoperative event was systolic blood pressure below 60 mm Hg (14%), but no cases required administration of vasoactive agents, and no serious intraoperative adverse events were observed. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Phase I was bypassed in 72% of cases with a median postoperative length of stay of 84 min. Forty-six patients returned to the emergency department following hospital discharge, but no returns were due to anesthetic concerns. CONCLUSIONS Spinal anesthesia is a viable and versatile option for a diversity of pediatric surgical procedures. We noted a low incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications. There remain numerous potential advantages of spinal anesthesia over general anesthesia in young pediatric patients particularly in the ambulatory setting. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV. TYPE OF STUDY Retrospective cohort treatment study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant Heydinger
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Catherine Roth
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rachel Kidwell
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin Campus (Dublin) and Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Joseph D Tobias
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Giorgio Veneziano
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Venkata R Jayanthi
- Division of Pediatric Urology, Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Department of Urology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Emmett E Whitaker
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Arlyne K Thung
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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Chen AL, Elder JS, Liu CA. Awake neuraxial anesthesia for infants undergoing infraumbilical surgery. Paediatr Anaesth 2023; 33:324-325. [PMID: 36424879 DOI: 10.1111/pan.14606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jack S Elder
- Division of Pediatric Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chang Amber Liu
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Handlogten K, Warner L, Granberg C, Gargollo P, Thalji L, Haile D. Implementation of a spinal anesthesia and sedation protocol that reliably prolongs infant spinal anesthesia: Case series of 102 infants who received spinal anesthesia for urologic surgery. Paediatr Anaesth 2020; 30:1355-1362. [PMID: 32966667 DOI: 10.1111/pan.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of spinal anesthesia in infants is seeing resurgence as an alternative to general anesthesia. AIMS Our primary aims are to describe our institution's experience introducing a spinal anesthesia and sedation protocol for infants undergoing urologic surgery, to describe methods of improving prolonged anesthesia, and to describe the failure rate of spinal anesthesia in these patients. Sedation was provided for some infants with intranasal dexmedetomidine ± fentanyl. METHODS This is a retrospective case series examining infants aged 1-<14 months who received spinal anesthesia for circumcision, orchiopexy, orchiectomy, hypospadias repair, or epispadias repair. The electronic medical record was reviewed and compared with unmatched historical controls who received general anesthesia. RESULTS A total of 230 patients underwent a urologic procedure; 102 patients received spinal anesthesia and 128 received general anesthesia. Length of surgical time with spinal anesthesia ranged from 4 to 189 minutes. The hospital length of stay was shorter in the spinal anesthesia group (median [IQR] of 5.3 hours [4.3, 7.2]) compared to the general anesthesia group (17.1 hours [15.6, 17.5]).The median bupivacaine dose was 0.75 mg/kg [0.67, 0.85]. There was one case in which cerebral spinal fluid was unable to be obtained, and one case that required conversion to general anesthesia after surgery had started. There were no cases of apnea, bleeding, infection, or neurologic compromise. CONCLUSIONS We describe the successful implementation of an infant spinal anesthesia and sedation protocol and a technique that uniquely provides prolonged surgical anesthesia with a low failure rate. We also report shorter anesthesia time, surgical time, and recovery room length of stay in patients who received spinal anesthesia compared to general anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Handlogten
- Department of Perioperative Medicine and Anesthesia, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lindsay Warner
- Department of Perioperative Medicine and Anesthesia, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Candace Granberg
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Leanne Thalji
- Department of Perioperative Medicine and Anesthesia, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dawit Haile
- Department of Perioperative Medicine and Anesthesia, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Critically ill newborn infants undergo a variety of painful procedures or experience a variety of painful conditions during their early life in the neonatal unit. In the critically ill paediatric and neonatal population, clonidine is prescribed as an adjunct to opioids or benzodiazepines aiming to reduce the doses of these drugs that are required for analgesia or sedation, or to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. It has been shown that clonidine premedication might have a positive effect on postoperative pain in children. OBJECTIVES To assess the benefit and harms of clonidine for the prevention or treatment of procedural pain; postoperative pain; or pain associated with clinical conditions in non-ventilated neonates. SEARCH METHODS We used the standard search strategy of Cochrane Neonatal to search the CENTRAL, MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL to December 2018. We also searched clinical trials databases, conference proceedings, and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials. We ran an updated search from 1 January 2018 to 11 March 2020 in CENTRAL via CRS Web, MEDLINE via Ovid, and CINAHL via EBSCOhost. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised controlled trials, and cluster trials comparing clonidine to placebo or no treatment, opioids, paracetamol, dexmedetomidine, or non-pharmacological pain-reducing interventions for the management of procedural pain, postoperative pain, and pain associated with clinical conditions in preterm and term newborns. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently planned to extract data (e.g. number of participants, birth weight, gestational age, modality of administration, and dose of clonidine) and assess the risk of bias (e.g. adequacy of randomisation, blinding, completeness of follow-up). The primary outcome considered was pain: for procedural pain, the mean values of each analgesia scale assessed during the procedure and at one to two hours after the procedure; for postoperative pain and for pain associated with clinical conditions, the mean values of each analgesia scale assessed at 30 minutes, three hours, and 12 hours after the administration of the intervention. We planned to use the GRADE approach to assess the quality of evidence. MAIN RESULTS Our search strategy yielded 3383 references. Two review authors independently assessed all references for inclusion. We did not find any completed studies for inclusion. We excluded three trials where clonidine was administered for spinal anaesthesia. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We did not find any studies that met our inclusion criteria and hence there is no evidence to recommend or refute the use of clonidine for the prevention or treatment of procedural or postoperative pain, or pain associated with clinical conditions in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Romantsik
- Lund University, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, PaediatricsLundSweden
| | - Maria Grazia Calevo
- Istituto Giannina GasliniEpidemiology, Biostatistics Unit, IRCCSGenoaItaly16147
| | - Elisabeth Norman
- Lund University, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of PaediatricsLundSweden
| | - Matteo Bruschettini
- Lund University, Skåne University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Sciences Lund, PaediatricsLundSweden
- Skåne University HospitalCochrane SwedenWigerthuset, Remissgatan 4, First FloorRoom 11‐221LundSweden22185
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Arends J, Tobias JD. Hypothermia Following Spinal Anesthesia in an Infant: Potential Impact of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine and Intrathecal Clonidine. J Med Cases 2019; 10:319-322. [PMID: 34434300 PMCID: PMC8383702 DOI: 10.14740/jmc3391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The α2-adrenergic agonists (dexmedetomidine and clonidine) have been used in several different clinical scenarios in infants and children including sedation during mechanical ventilation, procedural sedation, supplementation of postoperative analgesia, prevention of emergence delirium, control of post-anesthesia shivering, treatment of withdrawal and prolonging of duration of neuraxial anesthesia. Hemodynamic effects including bradycardia and hypotension remain the predominant adverse effects reported with the α2-adrenergic agonists. We report hypothermia following intravenous sedation with dexmedetomidine and spinal anesthesia with a combination of bupivacaine and clonidine in a 2-month-old infant. The potential mechanisms involved are reviewed, the causal relationship between hypothermia and α2-adrenergic agonists is explored and interventions to avoid its development are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Arends
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joseph D Tobias
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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Celik D, Onal O, Apiliogullari S, Kara I, Celik JB. Estimating the Lumbar Puncture Needle Depth in Children. J INVEST SURG 2019; 34:157-163. [DOI: 10.1080/08941939.2019.1614698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Derya Celik
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ozkan Onal
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Seza Apiliogullari
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Inci Kara
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Jale Bengi Celik
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
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AlSuhebani M, Martin DP, Relland LM, Bhalla T, Beebe AC, Whitaker AT, Samora W, Tobias JD. Spinal anesthesia instead of general anesthesia for infants undergoing tendon Achilles lengthening. Local Reg Anesth 2018; 11:25-29. [PMID: 29760560 PMCID: PMC5937509 DOI: 10.2147/lra.s157650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal anesthesia (SA) has been used relatively sparingly in the pediatric population, as it is typically reserved for patients in whom the perceived risk of general anesthesia is high due to comorbid conditions. Recently, concern has been expressed regarding the potential long-term neurocognitive effects of general anesthesia during the early stages of life. In view of this, our center has developed a program in which SA may be used as the sole agent for applicable surgical procedures. While this approach in children is commonly used for urologic or abdominal surgical procedures, there have been a limited number of reports of its use for orthopedic procedures in this population. We present the use of SA for 6 infants undergoing tendon Achilles lengthening, review the use of SA in orthopedic surgery, describe our protocols and dosing regimens, and discuss the potential adverse effects related to this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad AlSuhebani
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - David P Martin
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lance M Relland
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Tarun Bhalla
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Allan C Beebe
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Amanda T Whitaker
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Walter Samora
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joseph D Tobias
- Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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Comparison of postoperative analgesic effect of intrathecal clonidine and fentanyl added to bupivacaine in patients undergoing cesarean section: a prospective randomized double-blind study. PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2014; 2014:513628. [PMID: 24649361 PMCID: PMC3932201 DOI: 10.1155/2014/513628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To compare the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal clonidine and fentanyl added to bupivacaine after cesarean section. Methods. Ninety patients scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to one of the three following groups to receive bupivacaine 10 mg combined with 75 µg clonidine (group C), bupivacaine 10 mg combined with 0.5 mL fentanyl (group F), and bupivacaine 10 mg combined with 0.5 mL distilled water (group P), intrathecally. The time to first analgesic request, analgesic requirement in the first 24 hours after surgery, sensory and motor blockade onset time, duration of sensory and motor blockade, the incidence of hypotension, ephedrine requirements, bradycardia, and hypoxemia were recorded. Results. The duration of anesthesia in clonidine group (275.10 ± 96.09) was longer compared to the placebo (211.73 ± 74.80) and fentanyl (192.33 ± 30.36) groups. This difference between group C versus F (P = 0.006) and P groups (P < 0.001) was significant. Similarly, the mean time to first analgesic request was also longer in group C (519.44 ± 86.25) than in groups F (277.88 ± 94.25) and P (235.43 ± 22.35 min). This difference between group C versus F (P < 0.001) and P groups (P < 0.001) was significant. Conclusion. Intrathecal clonidine 75 µg with bupivacaine prolonged the time to first analgesic request compared to fentanyl; however, the total analgesic consumption within the first 24 h postoperative was similar in fentanyl and clonidine groups following cesarean section. This trial is registered with ACTRN12611000909921 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01425658.
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Walker SM, Yaksh TL. Neuraxial analgesia in neonates and infants: a review of clinical and preclinical strategies for the development of safety and efficacy data. Anesth Analg 2012; 115:638-62. [PMID: 22798528 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0b013e31826253f2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuraxial drugs provide robust pain control, have the potential to improve outcomes, and are an important component of the perioperative care of children. Opioids or clonidine improves analgesia when added to perioperative epidural infusions; analgesia is significantly prolonged by the addition of clonidine, ketamine, neostigmine, or tramadol to single-shot caudal injections of local anesthetic; and neonatal intrathecal anesthesia/analgesia is increasing in some centers. However, it is difficult to determine the relative risk-benefit of different techniques and drugs without detailed and sensitive data related to analgesia requirements, side effects, and follow-up. Current data related to benefits and complications in neonates and infants are summarized, but variability in current neuraxial drug use reflects the relative lack of high-quality evidence. Recent preclinical reports of adverse effects of general anesthetics on the developing brain have increased awareness of the potential benefit of neuraxial anesthesia/analgesia to avoid or reduce general anesthetic dose requirements. However, the developing spinal cord is also vulnerable to drug-related toxicity, and although there are well-established preclinical models and criteria for assessing spinal cord toxicity in adult animals, until recently there had been no systematic evaluation during early life. Therefore, in the second half of this review, we present preclinical data evaluating age-dependent changes in the pharmacodynamic response to different spinal analgesics, and recent studies evaluating spinal toxicity in specific developmental models. Finally, we advocate use of neuraxial drugs with the widest demonstrable safety margin and suggest minimum standards for preclinical evaluation before adoption of new analgesics or preparations into routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen M Walker
- Portex Unit: Pain Research, UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
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Walker SM, Grafe M, Yaksh TL. Intrathecal clonidine in the neonatal rat: dose-dependent analgesia and evaluation of spinal apoptosis and toxicity. Anesth Analg 2012; 115:450-60. [PMID: 22467896 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0b013e3182501a09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuraxial clonidine is used for perioperative analgesia in children of all ages. Preclinical studies in the postnatal rat allow comparison of the relative toxicity and safety of spinal analgesics throughout postnatal development. METHODS Rat pups aged 3, 7, or 21 postnatal (P) days were briefly anesthetized for intrathecal injections of saline or clonidine. At each age, the maximum tolerated, antinociceptive (increased hindlimb mechanical withdrawal threshold) and antihyperalgesic (hindpaw carrageenan inflammation) doses were determined. Lumbar spinal cord sections were assessed for apoptosis and cell death (histology, activated caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, Fluoro-Jade C staining), histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin staining), and increased glial reactivity (microglial and astrocytic markers). P3 intrathecal ketamine sections served as positive controls. In additional groups, thermal latency and mechanical withdrawal threshold were measured at P35. RESULTS Intrathecal clonidine produces age- and dose-dependent analgesia in rat pups. Maximal doses of clonidine did not alter the degree or distribution of apoptosis or increase glial reactivity in the neonatal spinal cord. No spinal histopathology was seen 1 or 7 days after injection at any age. Intrathecal clonidine did not produce persistent changes in reflex sensitivity to mechanical or thermal stimuli at P35. CONCLUSIONS Intrathecal clonidine in the postnatal rat did not produce signs of spinal cord toxicity, even at doses much larger than required for analgesia. The therapeutic ratio (maximum tolerated dose/antihyperalgesic dose) was >300 at P3, >30 at P7, and >10 at P21. These data provide additional information to inform the clinical choice of spinal analgesic drug in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen M Walker
- Portex Unit: Pain Research, UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond St. Hospital NHS Trust, 30 Guilford St., London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.
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Validation of a preclinical spinal safety model: effects of intrathecal morphine in the neonatal rat. Anesthesiology 2010; 113:183-99. [PMID: 20526189 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0b013e3181dcd6ec] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies demonstrate increased neuroapoptosis after general anesthesia in early life. Neuraxial techniques may minimize potential risks, but there has been no systematic evaluation of spinal analgesic safety in developmental models. We aimed to validate a preclinical model for evaluating dose-dependent efficacy, spinal cord toxicity, and long-term function after intrathecal morphine in the neonatal rat. METHODS Lumbar intrathecal injections were performed in anesthetized rats aged postnatal day (P) 3, 10, and 21. The relationship between injectate volume and segmental spread was assessed postmortem and by in vivo imaging. To determine the antinociceptive dose, mechanical withdrawal thresholds were measured at baseline and 30 min after intrathecal morphine. To evaluate toxicity, doses up to the maximum tolerated were administered, and spinal cord histopathology, apoptosis, and glial response were evaluated 1 and 7 days after P3 or P21 injection. Sensory thresholds and gait analysis were evaluated at P35. RESULTS Intrathecal injection can be reliably performed at all postnatal ages and injectate volume influences segmental spread. Intrathecal morphine produced spinally mediated analgesia at all ages with lower dose requirements in younger pups. High-dose intrathecal morphine did not produce signs of spinal cord toxicity or alter long-term function. CONCLUSIONS The therapeutic ratio for intrathecal morphine (toxic dose/antinociceptive dose) was at least 300 at P3 and at least 20 at P21 (latter doses limited by side effects). These data provide relative efficacy and safety for comparison with other analgesic preparations and contribute supporting evidence for the validity of this preclinical neonatal safety model.
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