Can a Dose of 2microg.kg(-1) Caudal Clonidine Cause Respiratory Depression in Neonates?

Overview

Journal Paediatr Anaesth

Specialties Anesthesiology
Pediatrics

Date 2000 Mar 11

PMID 10712721

Citations 14

Authors

C Breschan

R Krumpholz

R Likar

R Kraschl

H V Schalk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A case of multiple life-threatening postoperative apnoeas in a term neonate undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy and orchidopexy who received light inhalation anaesthesia combined with caudal block with 1 ml.kg-1 ropivacaine 0.2% plus 2 microg.kg-1 clonidine is reported. The patient showed no apparent risk factors for postanaesthetic apnoea. Oxycardiorespirography five days after surgery only showed minor abnormalities. Clonidine though administered caudally in the usual dose of 2 microg.kg-1 appeared to be the most likely cause for postanaesthetic apnoea in this neonate.

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