Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2008
ReviewLaryngospasm: review of different prevention and treatment modalities.
Laryngospasm is a common complication in pediatric anesthesia. In the majority of cases, laryngospasm is self-limiting. However, sometimes laryngospasm persists and if not appropriately treated, it may result in serious complications that may be life-threatening. The present review discusses laryngospasm with the emphasis on the different prevention and treatment modalities.
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Pediatric laryngospasm is an anesthetic emergency. It is a relatively common phenomenon that occurs with varying frequency dependent on multiple factors. In view of this and the clear risks to the patient when it occurs, a consensus committee has been established to determine the evidence based management of this condition. This article will cover the definition, causes and recognition of laryngospasm and the evidence behind a proposed algorithm for its' management.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Apr 2008
Intervention steps for treating laryngospasm in pediatric patients.
Laryngospasm, a potentially life-threatening complication of anesthesia, is reported more commonly in children (17.4/1000) than in the general population (8.7/1000). However, there are no clinical data on the optimal type and sequence of therapeutic interventions. We therefore characterized the interventions used at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ⋯ In the largest single-institution study to date of laryngospasm in pediatric patients, we found a rate of 1/1000 cases. Treatment followed a basic algorithm comprising continuous positive airway pressure, deepening of anesthesia, muscle relaxation and tracheal intubation.