Reactions 1083 - 7 Jan 2006

Clonidine/ropivacaine

Apnoea in a neonate following caudal block: casereport

A 4-week-old preterm male neonate, scheduled to undergoinguinal herniorrhaphy, developed preoperative apnoeafollowing caudal block with clonidine and ropivacaine.

The neonate received clonidine 1 µg/kg and 0.2%ropivacaine 1 mL/kg via caudal injection, with supplementaryoxygen and sevoflurane administered via facemask. After15 minutes later, he developed respiratory insufficiency, withdecreased tidal volume, respiratory rate and oxygensaturation; he also developed bradycardia, with a HR of88 beats/min.

The neonate was ventilated and received oxygen. Hisapnoea resolved and herniorrhaphy was performed withoutcomplication; apnoea did not recur during the 45 minuteprocedure or during 24 hours’ follow-up.Galante D. Preoperative apnea in a preterm infant after caudal block withropivacaine and clonidine. Pediatric Anesthesia 15: 708-709, No. 8, Aug 2005 -Italy 801022800

1

Reactions 7 Jan 2006 No. 10830114-9954/10/1083-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved