Inadvertent administration of intravenous ropivacaine in a child

Following abdominal surgery with inhalation anaesthesia and epidural ropiva caine analgesia, inadvertent intravenous (i.v.) administration of ropivacai ne occurred in a 1-year-old boy. The child spent 75 min in the postanaesthe sia care unit and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit. Tw o hours after transfer, it was noted that the epidural tubing was connected to the peripheral i.v. line. The child remained awake, vital signs were st able, and his oxygen saturation ranged from 96-98% on room air. The epidura l catheter was removed. He did not require further pain relief for the next 10 h.