Spinal anesthesia reduces the hazard of apnea in high-risk infants.
General anesthesia in premature babies is associated with a significant risk of life-threatening apnea. Spinal anesthesia in the high-risk infant is simple, safe, and effective, but the incidence of apnea with its use has not been previously determined. The total absence of apnea in 84 high-risk infants suggests that surgery below the umbilicus under spinal anesthesia can safely be performed on an outpatient basis in preterm infants or babies with a history of apnea. Ketamine as an adjunctive agent adds no apparent risk. The technique is relatively easy, surgery is not compromised, and parental acceptance is high.
Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, Lansing 48912.
T J
TJ
Veverka
D N
DN
Henry
M J
MJ
Milroy
M E
ME
Snyder
E
E
Fabian
J A
JA
Groch
L M
LM
Cobb
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000592:standards*; D001049:Apnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome