Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialPerioperative methadone for posterior spinal fusion in adolescents: Results from a double-blind randomized-controlled trial.
Posterior spinal fusion is the most common surgical procedure performed for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the United States. Intraoperative methadone has been shown to improve pain control in adult patients undergoing complex spine surgery, and current pediatric studies show encouraging results; however, prospective randomized-controlled trials are lacking in the pediatric literature. ⋯ A two-dose intraoperative methadone regimen resulted in decreased opioid consumption compared to morphine. Although the clinical significance of these results may be limited, the analgesic equipoise without increased opioid-related side effects and potential for a lower incidence of chronic pain may tip the balance in favor of routine methadone use for adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review of neurological airway respiratory cardiovascular other-surgical severity (NARCO-SS) score as a pediatric perioperative scoring system.
To systematically identify and synthesize the available evidence of the neurological airway respiratory cardiovascular other-surgical severity (NARCO-SS) score as compared to other pediatric specific perioperative scoring systems. ⋯ This review has identified a need for high-quality studies assessing NARCO-SS before recommendations for clinical practice can be made. Addressing its limitations and enhancing the NARCO-SS through targeted refinements of its individual descriptive categories could potentially lead to improvement in its overall predictive accuracy and facilitate wider adoption into clinical practice.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, dose-controlled study of the use of dexmedetomidine alone for procedural sedation of children and adolescents undergoing MRI scans.
Dexmedetomidine is a selective α2-adrenergic agonist originally approved for sedation of adults in the intensive care unit and subsequently approved for procedural sedation in adults undergoing medical procedures. Dexmedetomidine is widely used off-label for procedural sedation in children. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine was well tolerated. The high dose was associated with meaningfully greater efficacy compared with lower doses. Based on these results, the recommended starting dose for procedural sedation in children ≥1month-<2years is loading dose 1.5 mcg/kg/maintenance infusion 1.5 mcg/kg/h; children ≥2-<17years is loading dose 2.0 mcg/kg/maintenance infusion 1.5 mcg/kg/h.