Regional anaesthetic techniques for paediatric patients undergoing operative procedures have become increasingly popular throughout the world over the past few decades due to their significant benefits. Important among these are prolonged pain control and the ability to avoid opioid analgesia that promote post- operative nausea and vomiting.

An overview of the unique features of paediatric anatomy and physiology that allow successful performance of these techniques is presented. Combinations of local anaesthetics and adjuvant medications that prolong caudal and peripheral nerve blocks are reviewed, the use of peripheral nerve blocks and specific recommendations for the use of these blocks in children is also presented.

The use of regional anaesthesia is considered very safe and offer the ability to target therapy directly to the site of surgery.

With advances in the understanding of pain in children, progress in studying new techniques of regional anaesthesia, update equipment and the use of safe local anaesthetic agents, the use of regional anaesthetic blocks will continue to evolve.

Regional anaesthesia remains an important component of the multimodal approach specifically benefitting pediatric patients over opioid-based analgesia. Major goals of regional anaesthesia for paediatric surgery include effective and prolonged pain control and avoidance of unpleasant side-effects that distress patients and their families or that prolong hospital stay.