Use of ultrasound to estimate the prevalence of occult spinal dysraphism in children undergoing urogenital and anorectal surgeries: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aim: The use of ultrasound has immensely increased the safety toward regional blocks and central venous access and has been considered as the standard of care for securing central access. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of occult spinal dysraphism using ultrasound...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ann Sumin Toms, Ekta Rai, Novin Chacko John, Jyoti Panwar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/joacp.joacp_254_22
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Summary:Background and Aim: The use of ultrasound has immensely increased the safety toward regional blocks and central venous access and has been considered as the standard of care for securing central access. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of occult spinal dysraphism using ultrasound in children less than 2 years of age undergoing elective urogenital or anorectal surgery. Material and Methods: The lumbosacral region of 159 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category I/II patients, posted for elective urogenital and anorectal surgery was scanned with ultrasound, prior to giving caudal block. Results: The prevalence of occult spina bifida was 3% in our study. There was no statistically significant association of cutaneous marker with abnormal scan. Conclusion: Prevalence of occult spina bifida was ten-times higher in our study than in the general population. Perioperative ultrasound screening of the lower spinal anatomy by anesthesiologist done prior to performing neuraxial block is worthwhile in ruling out occult spinal anomalies in high-risk children of occult spinal dysraphism.
ISSN:0970-9185