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Background: Differences in neonatal pharmacokinetics are known to cause systemic accumulation of levobupivacaine with adverse effects during epidural analgesia. Therefore, it is not recommended to surpass 48 hours of administration in neonates. Free and total levobupivacaine levels are considered as predictors of toxicity., Objective: The aim of the LEVON pilot study was to detect the accumulation of levobupivacaine during epidural analgesia exceeding 48 hours in neonates., Methods: Ten neonates received a loading dose of levobupivacaine (1.25 mg/kg) followed by a continuous infusion (0.2 mg/kg/hour) epidurally. Free and total levobupivacaine concentrations were measured 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 36, 72 and 144 hours after the start of infusion. Cumulative doses of levobupivacaine, pain scores and clinical signs of toxicity were used for assessing efficacy and safety., Results: The median concentrations of total levobupivacaine were 586.0, 563.0, 837.5, 957.0, 1930.0, 708.5 and 357.5 ng/ml. The median concentrations of free levobupivacaine were 4.0, 3.6, 5.5, 3.6, 5.5, 0.8 and 0.0 ng/ml. Three patients reached concerning concentrations of total levobupivacaine. Levels of free levobupivacaine remained low. No signs of toxicity were observed., Conclusion: Caudal epidural analgesia with levobupivacaine lasting longer than 48 hours appears to be safe providing that free levobupivacaine levels are below the presumed threshold for toxicity (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 29). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: free levobupivacaine, total levobupivacaine, neonate, caudal continuous epidural analgesia, postoperative pain.

Selective lung intubation is a necessary prerequisite for the completion of most interventions comprising thoracotomy and thoracoscopy. In paediatric care, our site uses Univent tubes for children up to the age of three years and double-lumen tubes (DLT) for children from 6-8 years of age. In younger children, we usually use regular endotracheal intubation, with the lung being held in the hemithorax position being operated on using a surgical retractor. The article presents the analysis of 860 thoracic surgeries, of which 491 comprised selective intubation (Univent 57 cases, DLT 434 cases). The use of the aforementioned devices is connected with certain complications. Univent tube can be connected with intraoperative dislocation of the obturating balloon (29.8%) and balloon perforation (5.2%). DLT insertion may be connected with failure of tube fitting. In 84 cases we had to repeat DLT insertion (20.6%). In 8 cases we were not able to insert DLT at all (1.8%). Standard use of selective intubation methods in paediatric patients from two years of age improved the conditions for surgical interventions (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 19).

The popularity of continuous caudal epidural block in post-operative analgesia in very young children has been growing. This method of analgesia is used in major abdominal and urological surgeries. A local anaesthetic, usually levobupivacaine, is administered through an epidural catheter introduced via hiatus canalis sacralis. The usual type of the catheter is Arrow G20 armed with a metal spiral, which can be used for children of up to approximately 2000 g of body weight. We want to introduce a modification of the method which uses the thin silicone catheter Premicath G28. This catheter allows for the administration of caudal epidural analgesia even in premature children of approximately 500 g of body weight. This solution eliminates adverse effects of systemic opioid analgesia, accelerates surgical wound healing and disconnection from ventilation system, and improves the potential of enteral nutrition. Depth and quality of analgesia in very young children are monitored using a complex scheme called Comfort Neo Scale (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 7).