Epidural analgesia in children: planning, organization and development of a new program.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the present work is to describe the development and results of the pediatric epidural analgesia program at the ''Hospital Nacional de Pediatria Prof. Dr. J. P. Garrahan'' in Argentina. METHODS: Patients with thoracotomy, abdominal surgery, osteotomy, amputations or severe trauma were included in the program. The program provided training to the entire staff, control and record of pain treatment and its consequences, 24 h a day availability of anesthesia staff and standard polices and procedures. RESULTS: One hundred fifty children under 16 years of age (median age 11 years, median weight 35 kg) were included in the program during the first 18 months. The median of maximum pain reported during activity was 1 (interquartile range 1 to 4 points) using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Objective Pain Scale (OPS). Eighty seven children (CI 95% 50% to 67%) presented with postoperative nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, itching, motor blockade or sedation. No patient presented with respiratory depression, hypotension, local anaesthetic toxicity, epidural catheter related infection or death during the program evaluation. The postoperative care program enabled a 98-day reduction in treatment in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: The safe use of pediatric epidural analgesia in general wards may require the careful selection of patients, systematic assessment by trained personnel, training of medical and nursing personnel, clear distribution of responsibilities, use of printed indications, systematic record of pain, sedation and complications, information and education of patients and parents, supply of systems for airway resuscitation and management and continuous quality control and revision of the methods.

[Hemodynamic, immunologic and systemic stress response during surgery under total intravenous anesthesia with midazolam-ketamine-fentanyl or remifentanil-midazolam: a randomized clinical trial]. / Estudio comparativo de anestesia total intravenosa con midazolam- ketamina-fentanilo y remifentanilo-midazolam: evaluación de la respuesta hemodinámica, leucocitaria y de los marcadores sistémicos de estrés.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of stress from surgery on hemodynamics, white cell count, and systemic markers during cholecystectomies performed under 2 intravenous anesthetic techniques. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Randomized clinical trial in patients classified ASA 1 or 2. The patients received 0.15 mg x kg(-1) of midazolam, 1 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) of ketamine, and 2 microg x kg(-1) of fentanyl (MKF group) or 1 microg x kg(-1) x min of remifentanil and 0.15 mg x kg(-1) of midazolam (RM group). Hemodynamic parameters, white cell counts in circulating blood, and serum levels of cortisol, prolactin, and interleukin-6 were recorded before surgery, after intubation, and at the end of surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Hemodynamic stability was good in both groups. After intubation, mean (SD) heart rate (75 [14] beats x min(-1)) and systolic (96 [14] mm Hg) and diastolic (60 [7] mm Hg) blood pressures were lower in the RM group than in the MKF group (99 [17] beats x min(-1); 121 [29] mm Hg; and 79 [14] mm Hg, respectively, P<0.01). After surgery whi- te cell (10528 [6480] microL(-1)) and neutrophil (8155 [5657] microL(-1)) counts and cortisol concentration (225 [257] ng x mL(-1)) were significantly lower in the RM patients than in the MKF patients (white cell count, 14,002 [5927] cells x micromL(-1); neutrophil count, 11530 [5657] cells x microL(-1), and 788.8 [146] ng x mL(-1); P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The 2 intravenous anesthesia regimens compared differ slightly with regard to their effects on surgical stress. Anesthesia with remifentanil and midazolam contributes to reducing the inflammatory response through modulation of the neurohumoral response to stress.