[Diprivan and locoregional anesthesia in children over 3 years of age].

Preparation for anaesthesia (at least 1 hour prior to surgery): Topical anaesthesia at venepuncture sites and at the site of the block. Possible premedication (rectal midazolam: 0.3 mg.kg-1). Anaesthetic induction: Insertion of venous cannula; i.v. injection of 3-4 mg.kg-1 propofol, mixed with 0.05% lidocaine; Control of child's ventilation conditions: tolerance of the face mask, Guedel airway, laryngeal mask; tracheal intubation would be easy if necessary and would not require muscle relaxants; In cases where the child is distressed or where venous access cannot be obtained, it is sometimes preferable to resort to inhalational induction with halogenated anaesthetics prior to venepuncture. Initial maintenance anaesthesia (performing the block): Propofol given as a continuous infusion of 13 mg.kg-1.h-1, after a bolus injection of 1.3 mg.kg-1 (alternative solution: maintaining anaesthesia using halogenated agents); Positioning of the patient and performing the block technique with relatively concentrated local anaesthetic solutions (to avoid differential blocks). Maintenance anaesthesia during the procedure: Propofol given as a continuous infusion in reduced doses: 2 to 5 mg.kg-1.h-1; Alternatively: halogenated anaesthesia at low concentrations (equivalent to 0.25 to 0.5 vol % of halothane). Recovery: Particularly rapid and pleasant recovery, with a minimum of side effects; In cases of day-case surgery, patient discharge has virtually never to be postponed.