Spinal anaesthesia in infants born prematurely

Spinal anaesthesia was used for 25 infants who were born prematurely and who subsequently required inguinal herniotomy. Hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% was administered in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg. Satisfactory surgical anaesthesia was achieved in 22 patients and there were no episodes of haemodynamic instability. The technique was not associated with postoperative apnoea. Spinal anaesthesia is a safe and effective alternative to general anaesthesia in these high-risk infants. However, postoperative apnoea monitoring is still essential for all infants born prematurely.