• B Dalens, C Ecoffey, A Joly, E Giaufré, U Gustafsson, G Huledal, and L E Larsson.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Clermont Ferrand, France.
• Paediatr Anaesth. 2001 Jul 1;11(4):415-20.

BackgroundThe aim was to investigate the efficacy, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of ropivavcaine when administered for ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric block in children.MethodsWe examined the pharmacokinetics and analgesic efficacy after ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve block with 3 mg.kg-1 ropivacaine 5 mg.ml-1 in 22 children, aged 1-12 years, who were scheduled for inguinal surgery. Sixteen of 22 patients had a postoperative pain score < 4 (Objective Pain Scale). Nine children were given supplementary analgesics during the first six postoperative hours.ResultsThe peak plasma concentration of total ropivacaine was 1.50 +/- 0.93 mg.l-1 (mean +/- SD) (range 0.64-4.77 mg.l-1) 15-64 min after the injection. The peak plasma concentration of free ropivacaine was 0.05 +/- 0.03 mg.l-1 (0.02-0.14 mg.l-1), which is well below the threshold for toxicity in adults. The terminal half-life was 2.0 +/- 0.7 h. No safety concerns or symptoms suggestive of systemic toxicity were observed.ConclusionA dose of 3 mg.kg-1 of ropivacaine given as a single ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve block in 1-12-year-old children provides satisfactory postoperative pain relief, and is well tolerated.

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