Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2003
Case ReportsSingle-dose caudal anaesthesia for two infants undergoing diagnostic brain magnetic resonance imaging: high risk and nonhigh risk.
We present a case report of two infants given a bupivacaine caudal anaesthetic as a means of achieving sedation for a diagnostic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patient 1 was born at 27 weeks of gestation and presented to our hospital at 39 weeks postconception with a history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and apnoea/bradycardia spells. ⋯ Both infants fell asleep shortly after placement of the caudal blocks and the studies were completed successfully without complications. Utilizing this technique, we avoided dealing with a potentially difficult airway (patient 1), exacerbating postoperative apnoea and the negative implications of intravenous sedation during a study where there is limited access to the patient's airway.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2003
Validating the Derbyshire Children's Hospital Pain Tool: a pilot study.
The Derbyshire Children's Hospital Paediatric Pain Chart (DPC) is the current pain assessment tool used at the Derbyshire Children's Hospital. It was originally devised as a simple pain tool for use in the clinical area, and it is applicable for use in children of all ages within the postoperative setting. The pain assessment chart encompasses pain assessment by utilizing facial expression, body movement and verbal expression. An exploratory study was performed to define its reliability and validity. ⋯ This exploratory study suggests the DPC holds construct, convergent and known groups validity and is a reliable pain assessment tool for children aged 1-5 years undergoing minor and intermediate surgery.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2003
Case ReportsLaryngotracheo-oesophageal cleft in an infant: airway management during bronchoscopy.
A case of laryngotracheo-oesophageal cleft scheduled for bronchoscopy and repair is described. The authors highlight the difficulties of bronchoscopy in such a patient and suggest simple manoeuvres to negotiate the rigid bronchoscope into the trachea.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2003
Sedation and neuromuscular blockade in paediatric intensive care: a review of current practice in the UK.
Our aim was to investigate the current practice of sedation and neuromuscular blockade in critically ill children in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the UK. ⋯ Relatively few units possess clinical guidelines for the sedation of critically ill children, and only a minority formally assess sedation levels. Where neuromuscular blocking agents are administered, sedation is frequently inadequately assessed and the depth of neuromuscular blockade is rarely estimated.