Author(s)

Joel Waring, Alyssa Lowenwirt, Miriam Flaum, Eduard Logvinskiy, Dennis E. Feierman

Department of Anesthesiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

Life threatening post-operative apnea is a known complication of general anesthesia in premature infants. Neuraxial anesthesia has been associated with reduced risk of post-operative apnea. We report two cases, presenting for bilateral inguinal hernia repair, where we used a caudal/epidural catheter for the neuraxial block combined with dexmedetomidine for sedation in preterm infants at high risk for postoperative respiratory complications. Dexmedetomidine assisted in providing both favorable surgical conditions via its well proven sedative effects without respiratory comprised and decreased the discomfort and stress to the child during placement of the epidural catheter and the neuraxial anesthesia provided excellent analgesia and surgical conditions.

Prematurity, Apnea, Post-Operative Complication

Waring, J. , Lowenwirt, A. , Flaum, M. , Logvinskiy, E. and E. Feierman, D. (2016) The Use of Caudal/Epidural Catheter as the Primary Anesthetic with Dexmedetomidine Secondary to High Risk of Post-Operative Apnea in Premature Infants. Open Journal of Anesthesiology, 6, 63-66. doi: 10.4236/ojanes.2016.64010.