Day surgery regional anesthesia in children: safety and improving outcomes, do they make a difference?. Issue 6 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deer, Jeremy D.; Sawardekar, Amod; Suresh, Santhanam
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in anaesthesiology. Volume 29:Issue 6(2016:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: patient safety -- pediatric regional anesthesia -- peripheral nerve blocks -- Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network database; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology -- Indexes; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Review Literature -- Indexes; Review Literature -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology; Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1097/ACO.0000000000000403
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-7907

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose of review: The objective of this review is to provide an overview of recent developments in pediatric regional anesthesia and elucidate outcomes as it relates to patient safety and overall satisfaction. Recent findings: Since the inception of the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network database, the acquisition of data has enabled the pediatric anesthesiologist to extrapolate results and translate them into useful outcomes. Despite the growing trend to provide regional anesthesia in the pediatric population, there continues to be a paucity of available research studies to evaluate outcomes of various regional nerve blocks. This review serves as a conduit to explore the most recent data available, in each regional anesthetic technique, as it relates to outcomes such as analgesia, patient safety and satisfaction. Summary: Despite the limited number of randomized controlled trials evaluating the safety of individual regional anesthetic techniques, the growing body of data, such as presented in the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network database, suggests a high degree of safety in performing various regional anesthetic modalities. Modern medicine should continue to embrace the use of regional anesthesia, particularly in the ambulatory setting, to reduce perioperative pain and improve patient outcomes.