Summary

The management of intra and postoperative pain in children requires a rational approach, aiming to maximize both patient's comfort and safety. Although it is well established that children experience pain and remember it to the same extent as adults do, adequate strate-gies of pain management in pediatrics and training necessary for its successful implementation are still lacking in institutions. While neuraxial block procedures have long been established in pediatric anesthesia, specific nerve blocks, particularly blocks of the lower extremity remain despite their excellent benefit/risk ratio. Single shot nerve block procedures are appropriate for many indications of pediatric surgery, including patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. The future holds promise for the wider use of indwelling catheter techniques and their impact on postoperative analgesia and health care economics.

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