Single-Shot Spinal Anesthesia in an Infant Requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Open Lower-Extremity Surgery: A Case Report

Benjamin A Sanofsky; Benjamin V Jorgensen; Emmett E Whitaker; Jennifer W Lisle; Brian M Waldschmidt

doi:10.14740/jmc3519

Single-Shot Spinal Anesthesia in an Infant Requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Open Lower-Extremity Surgery: A Case Report

J Med Cases. 2020 Sep;11(9):286-288. doi: 10.14740/jmc3519. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Authors

Benjamin A Sanofsky^{1

2}, Benjamin V Jorgensen¹, Emmett E Whitaker¹, Jennifer W Lisle³, Brian M Waldschmidt¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
² Department of Anesthesiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.

Abstract

Spinal anesthesia (SA) is a safe and effective anesthetic technique for lower abdominal and lower extremity surgery in neonates and infants and is associated with an apparent state of sedation. We report the use of single-shot SA in a 6-week-old infant for a combined magnetic resonance imaging and open surgical biopsy of a deep soft tissue lower extremity mass. By leveraging the unique qualities of SA (sedation and surgical blockade), we avoided the need for general anesthesia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of single-shot SA for an infant undergoing two procedures in the same day.

Keywords: Infant spinal anesthesia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Open lower-extremity surgery.

Publication types

Case Reports