title: The effect of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia versus general anesthesia on the recovery time of intestinal function in young infants undergoing intestinal surgery: a randomized, prospective, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the rate of restoration of gastrointestinal (GI) function following combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia compared with general anesthesia in young infants undergoing elective intestinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Operating room and neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 young infants undergoing elective intestinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 young infants were randomly allocated to two groups of 25 patients each, a general anesthesia group and a CSE anesthesia group. The two groups were further divided into two subgroups according to whether the surgical procedure was performed on the small or large intestine. The main outcome of this study was to measure the recovery times of GI function by determining the time to the first postoperative stool, duration of nasogastric feeding, and onset time of full enteral nutrition. The secondary outcome was to detect adverse events postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recovery of intestinal function was faster (P < 0.0001) and the frequencies of postoperative abdominal distension and pneumonia were less (P < 0.04) in infants who were anesthetized with CSE anesthesia than general anesthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia leads to faster restoration of GI function while reducing adverse events in infants who require elective intestinal surgery.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel. somri_m@yahoo.com
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Somri
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Matter
authors: Constantinos A
authors: CA
authors: Parisinos
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Shaoul
authors: Jorge G
authors: JG
authors: Mogilner
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Bader
authors: Eldar
authors: E
authors: Asphandiarov
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Gaitini
mesh_terms: D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors