Ambulatory spinal anesthesia in infants ≤ six months of age: A retrospective review of outcomes and safety

PurposeTo review experience with outpatient spinal anesthesia (SA) from a single center in infants ≤6 months of age.MethodsRetrospective review of all SAs performed in the ambulatory setting in the outpatient surgery centers in infants ≤6 months of age from 2016 to 2020, focusing on success rate, adverse events, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) times, and emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) returns within 7 days of the operation.ResultsThe study cohort included 175 SAs performed on 173 patients ≤6 months of age. One hundred and sixty-two patients (93%) were able to undergo their respective surgical procedures under SA without conversion to general anesthesia. One hundred and thirty-six patients (78%) did not require additional sedation or analgesic agents. The median time from entering the operating room until the start of surgical procedure was 17 min. One hundred and twenty-six patients (72%) were able to bypass Phase I of the PACU. One hundred and forty-seven patients (86%) were discharged in less than two hours postoperatively. Only one complication related to SA was noted. This was a patient who returned on postoperative day 2 with a possible CSF leak noted by ultrasound. After overnight hospital floor admission, he was discharged the next day after receiving intravenous fluids without further sequelae.ConclusionsSA is a viable option for anesthetic care in infants ≤6 months of age presenting for outpatient surgery. Advantages included the ability to bypass PACU Phase I and facilitation of hospital discharge.Level of evidenceIV. Retrospective cohort treatment study.