Paediatric anaesthesia
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialDuration of action of atracurium when given by infusion to critically ill children.
The aim of the study was to investigate the offset time of atracurium when given by continuous infusion on a paediatric intensive care unit and to look for evidence of tolerance. Over a period of 8 months, 20 mechanically ventilated children had a steady-state infusion of atracurium discontinued to enable the assessment of their level of sedation. The offset time of atracurium was assessed by train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve. ⋯ The duration of infusion was negatively correlated with the offset time of atracurium, and this effect was most prominent in children who had received infusions for longer than 48 h. When given by continuous infusion, the offset time of atracurium is very variable between individual patients. Infusions administered for longer than 48 h are associated with a significant reduction in the offset time as a result of increasing tolerance.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Anaesthesia for manipulation of forearm fractures in children: a survey of current practice.
Despite recent recommendations that all children presenting for urgent or emergency surgery should be treated as though they have a full stomach, a local audit had shown a wide variation in technique used for anaesthesia in children after trauma. Therefore, a postal questionnaire was sent to 500 anaesthetists regarding their preferred anaesthetic technique for a 6-year-old child requiring manipulation of a forearm fracture. ⋯ Only 19.3% would perform a rapid sequence induction for surgery on the day of injury if the child had not eaten for 6 h before the injury. We conclude that not all anaesthetists believe that rapid sequence induction is necessary for anaesthesia after forearm fractures, despite recent recommendations.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 2000
Case ReportsDislodgement of bronchial foreign body during retrieval in children.
Foreign body aspiration is a leading cause of death in children aged less than 1 year. The removal of a foreign body poses a great challenge to the skill of the anaesthetist. Four cases are presented, analysing the part played by modes of respiration in the dislodgement of a bronchial foreign body during its retrieval.