The frequency of apneas in premature infants after inguinal hernia repair: do they need overnight monitoring in the intensive care unit?

Spinal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair in infants: a feasible and safe method even in emergency cases

“…In literature, general anesthesia is reported to be associated with the risk of severe cardio-circulatory, pulmonary and airway-related complications in those infants [9,10,[16][17][18]. Therefore, for this group of patients spinal anesthesia is a topic of interest and research since recent years, but is still discussed controversially [11,12].…”

“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that newborn children and especially premature infants carry a higher risk of postoperative complications due to general anesthesia [6][7][8]. Even today, respiratory complications like postoperative apnea are affected by low gestational age and comorbidities in infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia [9,10]. Therefore, the use of spinal anesthesia in this special group of patients remains a topic of interest since recent years [11,12].…”

A critical review of premature infants with inguinal hernias: optimal timing of repair, incarceration risk, and postoperative apnea

“…The reported risk of postoperative apnea is as high as 49%, while more recent reports demonstrated this rate to be closer to 5% [1][2][3][4]. Some even question whether it is necessary for all former premature infants undergoing elective herniorrhaphy to require hospitalization, but rather a 4-to 6-hour postoperative observation period instead [5].…”

Perioperative Care of the Neonate

“…Neonates should be monitored for postoperative respiratory complications such as apnea and oxygen desaturation. Neonates at risk include those with a history of prematurity, especially if still less than 45 weeks corrected gestational age, and neonates with comorbidities including chronic lung disease, history of necrotizing enterocolitis, anemia, low birth weight or former apnea episodes [31,32]. Healthy, older neonates may generally be repaired as an outpatient [31].…”