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Papers of the Week


2022 Feb 16


Anaesth Intensive Care

Caudal catheter placement for repeated epidural morphine doses after neonatal upper abdominal surgery.

Authors

Ho AM-H, Torbicki E, Winthrop AL, Kolar M, Zalan JE, MacLean G, Mizubuti GB
Anaesth Intensive Care. 2022 Feb 16:310057X211062240.
PMID: 35172612.

Abstract

Effective pain control after major surgery in neonates presents many challenges. Parenteral opioids (and co-analgesics) are often used but inadequate analgesia and oversedation are not uncommon. Although continuous thoracic epidural analgesia is highly effective and opioid-sparing, its associated risks and the need for staff with specialised skills and/or neonatal intensive care unit staff buy-in may preclude this option even in many academic centres. We present the case of a six-day-old infant who underwent upper abdominal surgery and received intermittent morphine doses via a tunnelled caudal epidural catheter, which provided satisfactory analgesia and facilitated early extubation.