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Reminder of important clinical lesson
CASE REPORT
Awake caudal anaesthesia in neonates/young infants for improved patient safety
  1. Wan Yen Lim1,
  2. Sujani Anuruddhika Wijeratne2,
  3. Evangeline Hua Ling Lim3
  1. 1Anaesthesiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  2. 2Anaesthesiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  3. 3Paediatric Anaesthesiology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  1. Correspondence to Dr Wan Yen Lim, wanyen.lim{at}mohh.com.sg

Summary

Caudal epidural block in a conscious infant is a recognised technique that allows the avoidance of general anaesthesia and risks associated with it. It is also technically easier to perform reliably compared with an awake subarachnoid block in skilled hands.1 While local anaesthetic systemic toxicity is a rare complication of caudal anaesthesia, this case illustrates the potential for caudal anaesthesia done awake in enhancing patient safety through early recognition of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity.

  • Anaesthesia
  • Medical education
  • Paediatrics
  • Safety

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2016-218500

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors WYL has produced the report and literature review and was involved in the care of the patient. SAW assisted with the report and was also involved in the care of the patient. ELHL oversaw the creation of the report and was additionally involved in the care of the patient.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.