title: Spinal anaesthesia in infants born prematurely.
abstract: Spinal anaesthesia was used for 25 infants who were born prematurely and who subsequently required inguinal herniotomy. Hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% was administered in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg. Satisfactory surgical anaesthesia was achieved in 22 patients and there were no episodes of haemodynamic instability. The technique was not associated with postoperative apnoea. Spinal anaesthesia is a safe and effective alternative to general anaesthesia in these high-risk infants. However, postoperative apnoea monitoring is still essential for all infants born prematurely.
authors.affiliation: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Crean
mesh_terms: D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002045:Bupivacaine; D005865:Gestational Age; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine