[Complications of pediatric spinal anesthesia].
We evaluated retrospectively the complications of pediatric spinal anesthesia in our center based on the histories of 50 spinal anesthesia cases (5-15 years of age, 0.56%) over the last 15 years. Five cases (10%) showed transient hypotension. In the prospective study of those under 5 years of age (35 children), there were no hypotensive cases, and the only critical complication was high spinal anesthesia; this case was complicated by giant hepatoblastoma. There was no obvious neurological damage in any of the patients who underwent spinal anesthesia. Because of low incidence of complications, pediatric spinal anesthesia is a useful method especially for patients with respiratory insufficiency. It is advisable to watch carefully for changes in blood pressure in senior infants, and to avoid spinal anesthesia in patients with giant abdominal tumors.
Department of Anesthesiology, Hokkaido Children's Medical Center, Otaru.
M
M
Yamakage
D
D
Horikawa
K
K
Tamiya
A
A
Namiki
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000075202:Contraindications; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D018197:Hepatoblastoma; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies