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Recovery after paediatric daycase herniotomy performed under spinal anaesthesia
Author(s) -
Kokki Hannu,
Heikkinen Marja,
Ahonen Riitta
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2000.00498.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vomiting , anesthesia , spinal anesthesia , general anaesthesia , prospective cohort study , surgery , el niño
Summary 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.