Recovery after paediatric daycase herniotomy performed under spinal anaesthesia.
In this prospective survey, recovery in hospital and at home was evaluated in 195 children aged 6 months to 10 years who had undergone herniotomy under spinal anaesthesia as a daycase procedure. Spinal anaesthesia was successful in most of the children, with only two patients being given general anaesthesia. Eighty-three percent of the children had pain at home and 19% had moderate or severe pain. Eighty-five percent of the children needed pain medication at home; the median dose of analgesics was 4 (1-9, 10th and 90th percentiles). Vomiting was noted in two of 195 children in hospital and in 10 of 192 children at home. Eleven children developed a mild position-dependent headache. Most of the children (183/191) recovered their normal daily activities during the first three postoperative days. We conclude that spinal anaesthesia is a safe and effective technique for paediatric herniotomy. Moreover, pain is common following herniotomy and children should be given analgesics for the first two or three postoperative days.
Kokki
H
H
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Heikkinen
M
M
Ahonen
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012449:Safety
D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine