Regional Anesthesia in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Pediatric regional anesthesia outside of the operative room setting is a largely underused practice. Regional anesthesia can provide effective and efficient regional pain control for a variety of injuries presenting to urgent care or emergency department settings while avoiding systemic effects of traditional analgesics. This article provides an overview of regional anesthesia procedures in this setting, including pharmacokinetics, potential adverse effects, the emerging use of ultrasound, and the growing process of credentialing and training. In reviewing the literature of this field, we have found that, although still underused, there is growing literature attesting to the benefits of pediatric regional anesthesia. We conclude that, although not mandated, any provider of acute or emergent care to pediatric patients would benefit from the utilization of regional anesthesia techniques that now can be more accurately administered with ultrasound assistance.