SPINAL ANESTHESIA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Spinal anesthesia is a technique widely used in pediatric surgical procedures, providing effective blockage of sensation and movement in the lower limbs and pelvis, while preserving the patient's consciousness. Its application to children requires specific care due to anatomical, physiological and psychological differences compared to adults. The efficacy, safety and potential complications associated with spinal anesthesia in children have been topics of increasing interest in the medical literature. In this context, a systematic literature review becomes essential to gather and analyze the available data, in order to provide a complete overview of the scientific evidence on the use of spinal anesthesia in children. Objective: to critically evaluate studies published in the last 10 years that address spinal anesthesia in children. We intend to analyze the efficacy, safety, complications, and clinical outcomes related to this technique in pediatric populations, thus contributing to the improvement of clinical practice and the safety of surgical procedures involving children. Methodology: the systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA checklist guidelines, we used four databases: PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, and we searched for articles published in the last 10 years. The five descriptors used were "spinal anesthesia", "children", "efficacy", "safety" and "complications". The Inclusion Criteria were: Studies published in the last 10 years; Studies that investigated spinal anesthesia in pediatric patients (age ≤ 18 years) and Studies that reported data related to the efficacy, safety or complications of spinal anesthesia in children. The Exclusion Criteria were: Studies in languages other than Portuguese and English; Studies in which data were insufficient or not publicly available and Studies that focused exclusively on adults or did not present data specific to the pediatric population. Results: the systematic review included a total of 15 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The results found indicate a general effectiveness of spinal anesthesia in children, with satisfactory anesthetic success rates and an acceptable safety profile. Complications, when they occurred, were generally mild and transient. Additionally, the review identified specific risk factors that may influence the efficacy and safety of spinal anesthesia in children. Conclusion: suggest that this technique is effective and safe in the pediatric population, with generally manageable complications. However, more studies are needed to deepen the understanding of risk factors and refine clinical practices. This review offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals working in pediatric anesthesia and highlights the importance of adapting anesthetic approaches for this specific population.