[Balanced spinal-epidural anesthesia in pediatric orthopedics].

The problem of spinal epidural anesthesia used in pediatric surgery has been inadequately studied. This investigation was undertaken to develop a balanced spinal epidural anesthesia schedule and to analyze its efficiency during orthopedic operations on the lower extremities in 119 children aged 2 to 16 years. Preference is given to sequential subarachnoidal and epidural space punctures via the same access. Comparative assessment of monitored indices during surgery and a need for postoperative analgesia in the groups of patients with conventional general anesthesia (n = 60) and those who had undergone spinal epidural anesthesia (n = 59) demonstrated a reliable intraoperative and early effective postoperative analgesia after balanced spinal epidural anesthesia.