Epidemiology and morbidity of regional anaesthesia in children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate which techniques of regional anaesthesia are made in 2008 and to appreciate and check their safety.

RECENT FINDINGS

The role of the central and peripheral accesses is discussed such as their complications taking into consideration the previously published studies.

SUMMARY

Regional anaesthesia is very much used in the child and develops very quickly. The peripheral accesses represent the majority of the regional techniques used. Continuous injection, after central or peripheral accesses, also progresses. There are complications in podiatry after regional anaesthesias. In most cases, they are not serious permanent problems, but they are probably underestimated. Modern approaches of treatment for the nervous structures (neurostimulators and echographs) are available and are used more often in order to increase the effectiveness. Careful use of the neurostimulator and ultrasonography may probably improve the safety in paediatric regional anaesthesia in the years to come.