Campbell N N, Reynolds G J, Perkins G
Kirwan Hospital for Women, Queensland.
Anaesth Intensive Care. 1989 Nov;17(4):487-91. doi: 10.1177/0310057X8901700416.
An Australia-wide survey of the use of postoperative analgesia in neonates has been conducted. A high overall use of analgesia has been recorded with 75% of respondents prescribing an opioid. The frequency of use of local or regional analgesia was disappointingly low at 8% overall. The general attitude is that analgesia is desirable but a fear of respiratory depression inhibits its use, particularly in non-ventilated neonates and after more minor surgery. It is suggested that a wider use of regional anaesthesia techniques may reduce this problem.