Lower extremity nerve blocks in pediatric patients☆☆☆

Abstract 

Pediatric applications of plexus and conduction nerve blocks have increased considerably in recent years, and they have indications in virtually all aspects of surgical and procedural pain, including outpatient surgery, whether the techniques are used in conscious patients or in combination with general anesthesia. Lower-extremity nerve blocks remain underused despite their many advantages in terms of efficacy, safety, and ease with which they can be performed with the help of a nerve stimulator. A major improvement in recent years consists of the development of techniques allowing catheter placement for continuous infusion of local anesthetics. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.