Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia

REVIEW ARTICLE
Year
: 2011  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 208--216

Ultrasound-guided peripheral and truncal blocks in pediatric patients


Mohamed Bilal Delvi 
 Department of Anesthesia, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Correspondence Address:
Mohamed Bilal Delvi
Department of Anesthesia, 41, PO Box 7805 KKUH, Riyadh 11472
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ultrasound has added a feather in the cap of the anesthesiologists as real-time nerve localization and drug deposition around the nerve structure under real-time guidance is now a reality, as the saying «DQ»seeing is believing«DQ» has been proven true with the advent of ultrasound in anesthesia. Pediatric patients are a unique group regarding their anatomical and physiological features in comparison with adults; regional blocks in adults with the anatomical landmark and surface marking are almost uniform across the adult population. The landmark technique in pediatric patients is not reliable in all patients due to the variability in the age and size; the advent of ultrasound in assisting nerve localization has changed the way regional blocks are achieved in children and the range of blocks performed on adults can now be performed on pediatric patients; with advances in the technology and dexterity of ultrasound equipment, the chances of success of blocks has increased with a smaller dose of the local anesthetic in comparison to the traditional methods. Anesthesiologists are now able to perform blocks with more accuracy and avoid complications like intravascular injection and injury to the pleura and peritoneum during routine practice with the assistance of high-frequency transducers and top of the range portable ultrasound machines; catheters can be inserted to provide a continuous analgesia in the postoperative period. This review article describes the common peripheral blocks in pediatric patients; the readers are encouraged to gain experience by attending workshops, hands-on practice under supervision, and conduct random controlled trials pertaining to ultrasound-guided blocks in the pediatric age group. The recent literature is encouraging and further research is promising; a wide range of blocks being described in detail by many prominent experts from all over the world.


How to cite this article:
Delvi MB. Ultrasound-guided peripheral and truncal blocks in pediatric patients.Saudi J Anaesth 2011;5:208-216


How to cite this URL:
Delvi MB. Ultrasound-guided peripheral and truncal blocks in pediatric patients. Saudi J Anaesth [serial online] 2011 [cited 2023 Mar 20 ];5:208-216
Available from: https://www.saudija.org/article.asp?issn=1658-354X;year=2011;volume=5;issue=2;spage=208;epage=216;aulast=Delvi;type=0