Spinal Anesthesia is Superior to General Anesthesia for Percutaneous Achilles Tenotomy in Infants

BACKGROUND Concern about the effects of inhaled, halogenated anesthetics on neurodevelopment of infants has renewed interest in regional anesthesia as an alternative to general anesthesia (GA). Infants undergoing percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (PAT) are well suited for spinal anesthesia (SP). METHODS Thirty infants (mean age: 2.3 mo) undergoing PAT with SP were compared with 15 infants (mean age: 2.0 mo) undergoing PAT with GA. Data collected included perioperative times, heart rate and blood pressure, and the administration of opioids. RESULTS Ten of 15 GA (67%) patients received perioperative opioids as opposed to 1 of 30 SP patients (3.3%) (P