Perioperative epidural analgesia in children undergoing major abdominal tumor surgery - a single center experience

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of continuous epidural analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing major abdominal tumor surgery. Methods: Children undergoing major abdominal tumor surgery at our institution between 2008 and 2012 (n = 40) received continuous epidural analgesia via an epidural catheter. Surgical trauma scores, pain scores, and clinical data of the children were compared to a pair-matched historical control group operated on between 2002 and 2007 without epidural analgesia. Results: Pain levels in the study group on day 1 and 3 after surgery were lower compared to the control group. The differences did, however, not reach statistical significance (p = 0.15 and 0.09). Children in the study group received significantly fewer additional doses of piritramide or morphine (45% versus 82%, p < 0.001). Despite significantly higher surgical trauma scores in the study group (p = 0.018), there were no statistical differences regarding clinical parameters, such as mechanical ventilation time, time on intensive care unit, and total hospital stay. There were no catheter-related complications. Conclusions: Continuous epidural analgesia is beneficial for children undergoing complex abdominal tumor surgery with regard to pain levels, postoperative recovery, and general clinical course. Expertise of the managing team, a careful patient selection, and a continuous quality assessment are essential for success. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.