• N Rolf and C J Coté.
• Department of Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
• J Clin Anesth. 1992 May 1; 4 (3): 200-3.

Study ObjectiveTo determine whether anesthesia in the presence of a mild upper respiratory infection (URI) was associated with episodes of desaturation or reactive airway problems.DesignA prospective study.SettingInpatient and outpatient units of a university medical center.PatientsFour hundred two pediatric patients.InterventionsPatients were monitored with continuous recordings of oxygen saturation (SpO2), capnography, and electrocardiogram. A separate anesthesiologist was present throughout each case to observe for complications and interview the anesthesia team. The decision to anesthetize patients with a URI was left to the discretion of the anesthesia team.Measurements And Main ResultsThirty patients with a URI and 372 patients without one were studied. One hundred ninety-six patients were managed with endotracheal intubation and 206 with face mask; 15 in each group had a URI. There was no increase in major desaturation events (SpO2 of 85% or less for 30 or more seconds) but minor desaturation events (SpO2 of 95% or less for 60 or more seconds) were increased (p = 0.02). There was no increased frequency of laryngospasm (1 in 30 vs. 22 in 372), but there was a higher frequency of bronchospasm in intubated patients (2 in 15 vs. 1 in 181; p = 0.016).ConclusionsChildren with a mild URI have an increased frequency of minor desaturation episodes, and intubated patients with a URI have an increased frequency of bronchospasm. It appears that children with a mild URI may be safely anesthetized, since the problems encountered are generally easily treated and without long-term sequelae.

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