Head and neck blocks in children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The present article will review the current technology and available literature regarding regional anesthesia in infants and children undergoing head and neck surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

Regional anesthesia can be utilized in a variety of surgical procedures on the head and neck. The reporting of multiple techniques along with prospective randomized trials that have looked into the efficacy of these blocks in children have led to a sweeping increase in their use in children for postoperative pain relief.

SUMMARY

The trigeminal nerve, along with the cervical nerve roots, supplies most of the sensory supply to the head and neck. The knowledge and application of the anatomical distribution of this area can increase the utilization of these blocks for a variety of different settings. The increased use of these blocks can reduce the need for additional postoperative analgesic that could in turn lead to fast-tracking of these patients and decrease the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period.