Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2015
ReviewRisk assessment and anesthetic management of patients with Williams syndrome: a comprehensive review.
Since the first description in 1961, several case reports have documented an increased incidence of anesthesia-related cardiac arrest in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome, commonly known as Williams syndrome (WS). Widespread arteriopathy secondary to an elastin gene defect results in various cardiac defects, including supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS) and coronary artery anomalies, which can increase the risk of myocardial ischemia. ⋯ To date, no prospective studies have been reported that quantify anesthetic risk in individual patients with WS. In this article, we review the clinical manifestations of WS, propose a consensus, expert-informed method to estimate anesthetic risk based on the current literature, and provide recommendations for periprocedural management of this patient population.
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Pyloric stenosis (PS) is one of the most common surgical conditions affecting neonates and young infants. The definitive treatment for PS is surgical pyloromyotomy, either open or laparoscopic. However, surgical intervention should never be considered urgent or emergent. ⋯ The following manuscript reviews the current evidence-based medicine regarding the perioperative care of infants with PS with focus on the preoperative assessment and correction of metabolic abnormalities, intraoperative care including airway management (particularly debate related to rapid sequence intubation), maintenance anesthetic techniques, and techniques for postoperative pain management. Additionally, reports of applications of regional anesthesia for either postoperative pain control or as an alternative to general anesthesia are discussed. Management recommendations are provided whenever possible.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2015
Multicenter Study Observational StudyThe prevalence of pain at home and its consequences in children following two types of short stay surgery: a multicenter observational cohort study.
The potential for pain at home in children following day case surgery has long been recognized. Pain has also been associated with behavioral disturbances and sleep disruption in children following surgery and may also impact negatively on recovery, parental and patient satisfaction, family life, healthcare use, and have an economic cost. ⋯ The prevalence of pain at home, and its potential associated consequences, is high following short stay surgery in children in the UK. In both groups, high incidences were seen for longer periods than is commonly perceived. These findings were consistent between the centers involved suggesting that this is a significant national healthcare issue with potential short- and long-term consequences for the child, their family, and health services.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2015
Changes in QTc associated with a rapid bolus dose of dexmedetomidine in patients receiving TIVA: a retrospective study.
Clinical indications for the perioperative use of dexmedetomidine in pediatric anesthesia are accumulating. However, in 2013, dexmedetomidine was added to the list of medications with possible risk of prolonging the QT interval and/or inducing Torsades de Pointes. Unfortunately, current evidence for dexmedetomidine-induced QT prolongation is sparse and somewhat contradictory. ⋯ In this study, a rapid bolus of dexmedetomidine transiently shortened corrected QT intervals. However, these effects are confounded by dexmedetomidine-induced bradycardia. These findings should be confirmed in pediatric studies without concomitant TIVA administration and with optimized correction of baseline HR.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2015
Comparative StudyPain outcomes in children who received intrathecal vs intravenous opioids for pain control following major urologic surgery: a retrospective review.
Intrathecal (IT) opioid administration has been associated with postoperative benefits including reduced pain and opioid use in children. However, the postoperative benefits and risks of IT opioid administration during major urologic surgery in children remain unclear. ⋯ We observed better postoperative pain control in children who received IT vs IV opioids for the first 16 h with no discernible difference thereafter. The intrathecal group experienced higher incidences of pruritus, constipation, and hypotension.