Paediatric anaesthesia
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe efficacy of pre- versus postsurgical axillary block on postoperative pain in paediatric patients.
We compared the effects of pre- and postsurgical axillary block on pain after hand and forearm surgery in 55 children in a double-blind randomized study. The successful blocks are reported here (n=49). Children aged 1-11 years and ASA I or II were allocated randomly to receive axillary block with 2 mg.kg-1 of 0.25% bupivacaine, either after induction but before the surgery (presurgical group, n=25) or immediately after surgery, before the end of anaesthesia (postsurgical, n=24). ⋯ Additional analgesic consumption was similar in these patients in both groups. A lower isoflurane concentration was used in the presurgical group (0.68% vs 1.72%, P< 0.001). We did not demonstrate the superiority of preemptive analgesia, but our results indicate that presurgical axillary block with 0.25% bupivacaine allows the use of inhalational anaesthetics at lower concentrations while providing a reasonably painless postoperative period.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialContinuous monitoring of oesophageal pH during general anaesthesia with laryngeal mask airway in children.
We studied the incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) during general anaesthesia with the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in a paediatric population with two ventilatory regimes: spontaneous breathing and controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV). Thirty children between 6 months and 15 years, ASA I-II, for routine surgery, were randomly assigned in two groups: spontaneous ventilation (n=14), and CMV (n=16). A pH probe was situated in the central third of the oesophagus. ⋯ Reflux took place mainly after LMA removal (21% vs. 68%; P < 0,01) and in the Postanaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) (29% vs. 43%; P < 0,05). There was a high incidence of GOR during general anaesthesia and in the PACU in paediatric patients anaesthetized with the LMA. GOR episodes were significantly more evident in the CMV group, mainly after LMA removal, but without clinical significance.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of different anaesthetic regimes on the oculocardiac reflex during paediatric strabismus surgery.
The oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is induced by mechanical stimulation and therefore is frequently encountered during strabismus surgery. This study was designed to determine how various anaesthetic regimes modulate the haemodynamic effects of the OCR during paediatric strabismus surgery. Thirty-nine patients (4-14 years, ASA I) were randomized to one of four anaesthetic regimes: group P: propofol (12 mg.kg(-1).h(-1)) and alfentanil (0.04 mg.kg(-1).h(-1)); group S: sevoflurane 1-1.2 MAC in 30% O(2)/70% N(2)O; group K: ketamine racemate (10-12 mg. kg(-1).h(-1)) and midazolam (0.3-0.6 mg.kg(-1).h(-1); group H: halothane 1-1. 2 MAC in 30% O(2)/70% N(2)O. ⋯ Atrioventricular rhythm disorders were significantly more frequent in group P compared with group K (P < 0.02). Respiration-induced sinus dysrhythmia was significantly less frequent (P < 0.001) in group K (0%), compared with group P (100%), group H (56%) and group S (55%). Of the anaesthetic techniques studied, ketamine anaesthesia is associated with the least haemodynamic changes induced by OCR during strabismus surgery in paediatric patients.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Analysis of behavioural and physiological parameters for the assessment of postoperative analgesic demand in newborns, infants and young children: a comprehensive report on seven consecutive studies.
Many different systems for the assessment of pain in newborns and infants have been tested for validity, rarely for reliability but never for sensitivity or specificity. We aimed to determine whether the assessment of an analgesic demand in the lower age group during the postoperative period is possible by observational methods only. In an repetitive and sequential prospective process for identifying observationable behaviour and measurable physiological parameters as indicators of a postoperative analgesic demand, 584 newborns, infants and young children were studied (7 prospective studies, 4238 observations). ⋯ Seventy-one toddlers gave verbal comments on their pain intensity: in 29 painfree situations the CHIPPS score was 3.0 and in 29 painful situations it was 5.7. The values for sensitivity and specificity of CHIPPS were calculated to be 0.92-0.96 and 0.74-0.95, respectively (discriminant analyses). We conclude that it is possible to determine postoperative analgesic demand in the low age group of children by using an observational system such as CHIPPS alone.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialParental presence during anaesthesia induction for outpatient surgery of the infant.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial of parental presence during anaesthesia induction for outpatient surgery in 73 infants (aged 1-12 months). Effects of parental presence on infant and parental outcomes, including anxiety, health care attitudes and satisfaction with the anaesthesia and surgery experience were evaluated. ⋯ In addition, parents who were present demonstrated comparable anxiety levels and health care attitudes before and after surgery, as well as comparable levels of satisfaction with the surgical experience compared to parents who were absent during induction. We discuss reasons for the lack of treatment effects from parental presence, and new directions for future research to identify subgroups of children who may most benefit from the opportunity to have parents involved in the perioperative period.