POSTOPERATIVE EPIDURAL ANALGESIA FOR PEDIATRIC SPINE SURGERY

The safety of epidural infusion for postoperative analgesia in pediatr ic spine surgery continues to be established. A continuous epidural in fusion of morphine sulfate and bupivacaine was used for postoperative analgesia in 12 pediatric patients undergoing spinal surgery. The epid ural was placed intraoperatively by the operating surgeon, while conti nuous infusion was managed postoperatively by a pediatric anesthesiolo gy pain service team. In addition to the continuous infusion, 2 of the 12 also were provided on-demand patient-controlled boluses via epidur al catheter for breakthrough pain. Patients experienced analgesia as d ocumented by a comprehensive pain scale form. No catheters failed, whi le side effects were minimal and easily managed. These results provide confirmation of the safety and efficacy of continuous epidural infusi on for postoperative analgesia following pediatric spine surgery and e vidence that patient-controlled epidural analgesia is an option.