Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2018
ReviewThe anatomy of the pediatric airway: Has our knowledge changed in 120 years? A review of historic and recent investigations of the anatomy of the pediatric larynx.
There is disagreement regarding the anatomy of the pediatric airway, particularly regarding the shape of the cricoid cartilage and the location of the narrowest portion of the larynx. ⋯ In vivo studies do not take into account the motion of the highly pliable laryngeal upper airway structures (aryepiglottic, vestibular, and vocal folds). Maximal abduction of these structures with tracheal tubes or bronchoscopes always demonstrates a larger opening of the glottis compared to the outlet of the cricoid ring. Injury to the larynx depends upon ease of tracheal tube or endoscope passage past the cricoid cartilage and not passage through the readily distensible more proximal structures. The infant larynx is funnel shaped with the narrowest portion the circular or near circular cricoid cartilage confirmed by multiple in vitro autopsy specimens carried out over the past century.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2018
ReviewAssessment of sedation level prior to neonatal intubation: A systematic review.
Adequate premedication before neonatal endotracheal intubation reduces pain, stress, and adverse physiological responses, diminishes duration and number of attempts at intubation, and prevents traumatic airway injury. Therefore, intubation should not be started until an adequate level of sedation is reached. It is not clear how this should be measured in the clinical situation. ⋯ No validated scoring systems to assess the level of sedation prior to intubation in newborns are available in the literature. Three objective sedation assessment tools seem promising but need further validation before they can be implemented in research and clinical settings.
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De Barsy syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by cutis laxa, progeroid appearance, ophthalmic opacification, skeletal malformations, growth delays, and intellectual disability. ⋯ This expanded case series suggests that providers caring for patients with de Barsy syndrome should be aware of potential challenges with airway management, vascular access, and temperature monitoring.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2018
Introducing the 6-4-0 fasting regimen and the incidence of prolonged preoperative fasting in children.
Children often starve for longer than recommended by current preoperative fasting guidelines. ⋯ The introduction and implementation of the 6-4-0 fasting regimen reduces median fluid fasting duration and the number of children subjected to extended fasting.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2018
Incidence and predictors of 30-day postoperative readmission in children.
Hospital readmissions are being used as a quality metric for hospital reimbursement without a clear understanding of the factors that contribute to readmission. ⋯ Children with congenital heart disease, high American Society of Anesthesiologist physical class, inpatient status, and at least 1 postoperative complication of any kind are at high risk for postsurgical readmissions. We provide an algorithm for quantifying this risk with the goal of reducing the number of readmissions, improving the care of patients with complex chronic illnesses, and reducing hospital costs.