EFFICIENCY OF ULTRASOUND GUIDED LOWER LIMB PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCKS IN PERIOPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR KNEE ARTHROSCOPY IN CHILDREN. A RANDOMIZED STUDY.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are efficient for perioperative pain treatment in children. The aim was to see if lower limb peripheral nerve blocks reduced the amount of propofol and opioid analgesics used intraoperatively, as well as the level of pain and consumption of systemic analgesics postoperatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, prospective clinical trial was carried out. It included 60 children between 11 and 18 years of age scheduled for elective knee arthroscopy. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A received general anesthesia, group B received lower limb peripheral nerve blocks with sedation or general anesthesia. Postoperative level ofpain was assessed using visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Less propofol and fentanyl was used to induce and maintain anesthesia in group B (p < 0.001). The level of postoperative pain was significantly lower in group B (p < 0.001), as well as the postoperative consumption of analgesics (p < 0.001). As mahbny as 47% of the patients were discharged without receiving any analgesics postoperatively. The average duration of peripheral nerve blocks was 468 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are an efficient technique of regional anesthesia in children. They reduce the amount of general anesthetics and opioid analgesics needed intraoperatively as well as the level of postoperative pain and consumption of analgesics postoperatively.

TRANEXAMIC ACID IN SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SCOLIOSIS IN CHILDREN: A CASE REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: Children who are subjected to surgical treatment for scoliosis usually end up receiving a lot of blood transfusions since they tend to lose one or more blood volumes during the surgery. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent, increasingly used in children to reduce perioperative blood loss in various settings, including corrective surgery of scoliosis. CASE REPORT: A 12-year-old girl, weighing 44 kg, was admitted to our hospital for scoliosis correction. She had congenital scoliosis caused by congenital malformation of vertebrae. The surgery was performed under balanced general anesthesia. Two central and one peripheral line were cannulated in case massive transfusion would be required. Invasive monitoring was used, as well as prevention of hypothermia. Since massive blood loss was expected, bolus of tranexamic acid had been administered prior to the surgery. Tranexamic acid was given continuously in an intravenous infusion during the surgery. Blood loss was only 10 ml/kg, and since the hemoglobin value was orderline (89 g/l) during the surgery, the patient received 10 ml/kg of packed red blood cells. The child was hemodynamically stable throughout the surgery. After the completion of surgery, which lasted for 5 hours, the patient was extubated in the operating room. Postoperatively, the patient was transferred to the surgical ward. Hemoglobin values were stable and there was no need for additional blood replacement. CONCLUSION: Extensive blood loss is common in pediatric scoliosis correction surgery, transfusion being unavoidable in the majority of cases. In our patient, tranexamic acid proved safe and effective in reducing perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirement.

Psychological aspects of pediatric anesthesia.

Surgery and anesthesia cause a significant emotional stress in both parents and children. Since the consequences of this stress develop immediately after surgery and can last even when the hospital treatment is over, the role of the anesthesiologist is to ensure psychological as well as physiological well-being of the patient. In order to reduce emotional stress induced by anesthesia and operation, the anesthesiologist has to understand certain developmental phases that children go through and to identify situations which a child could potentially see as a danger or a threat. This can usually be achieved by careful preoperative assessment and by administering preoperative sedation. During the preoperative visit to the patient, the anesthesiologist can evaluate the levels of anxiety of both parents and children as well as assess the child's medical condition.