• P Meyer, G Orliaguet, S Blanot, H Cuttaree, M M Jarreau, B Charron, and P Carli.
• Département d'anesthésie-réanimation chirurgicale, secteur pédiatrique, CHU Necker-Enfants Malades, 149, rue de Sèvres 75015 Paris, France. philippe.meyer@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr
• Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2002 Feb 1; 21 (2): 90-102.

AbstractThe most frequent space-occupying cerebral lesions in children are brain tumors, mostly posterior fossa tumors and haematoma resulting from arteriovenous malformation rupture. They result in intracranial hypertension, directly or by compression of the cerebrospinal fluid pathway resulting in hydrocephalus. Their localization and compressive effects are responsible for specific neurological deficits and general problems. Posterior fossa lesions carry a high risk of obstructive hydrocephalus, cranial nerves palsy and brain stem compression, pituitary and chiasmatic tumors a risk of blindness, pituitary deficiency and diabetes insipidus, and cortical tumors a risk of motor deficit and epilepsy. All these parameters must be analyzed before choosing anaesthetic protocols, and surgical techniques. In the presence of life-threatening intracranial hypertension, emergency anaesthetic induction, tracheal intubation and ventilation are life-saving. The specific treatment consists in either hydrocephalus derivation, initial medical treatment with osmotherapy, or rarely surgical removal. In other situations, surgical process requires a highly deep, stable anaesthesia with perfect control of cerebral haemodynamics. Surgical positioning is complex for these long lasting procedures and carries specific risks. The most common is venous air embolism in the sitting position that must be prevented by the use of specific measures. In the postoperative period, the risk of neurological and general complications commands close surveillance, fast track extubation must be adapted on an individual basis.

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