Comparison of Postoperative Apneic Episodes after General and Spinal Anesthesia for Inguinal Herniorrhaphy among very Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to compare the incidences of postoperative apnea in between either spinal or general anesthesia for inguinal herniorrhaphy among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: Retrospective chart review for 28 infants less than 1, 500gram birth weight who underwent inguinal hernia repair at Samsung Medical Center from January 1994 to May 2002 was done. These infants had been already weaned from ventilator before inguinal herniorrhaphy. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the type of anesthesia they received for the hernia repair. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in gestational age, birth weight, corrected gestational age, body weight at the time of operation, duration of mechanical ventilator and duration of oxygen requirements in between groups with general anesthesia (13 cases) and spinal anesthesia (15 cases). The incidences of apnea and requirement of oxygen for 24 hours preoperatively did not show significant differences in between two groups, however, the postoperative incidences of apnea, requirement of oxygen and ventilator care were less in spinal anesthesia group. One infant of general anesthesia group who required postoperative mechanical ventilator eventually ended up with tracheostomy due to ventilator weaning failure. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the spinal anesthesia for VLBW infants who underwent inguinal herniorrhaphy significantly decreased the incidences of postoperative apnea compared to those infants with general anesthesia.