Regional anaesthesia

Abstract

One of the most desirable achievements in paediatric surgery is that children can sleep quietly without pain after the procedure. This would not be possible without combined techniques of general and regional anaesthesia. The advantages of regional anaesthesia include lower doses of systemic anaesthetics, no requirement for opioids, less need for postoperative ventilation after major thoracic or abdominal surgery, reduced time in the intensive care unit and inhibition of endocrinological stress responses.