Preoperative evaluation and preparation of the pediatric patient.

A successful anesthetic is built on the foundation of the preoperative evaluation and preparation, six features of which will be discussed: (1) content and timing of the anesthesiologist's preoperative evaluation; (2) value of preoperative laboratory testing; (3) psychological effects of hospitalization and surgery; (4) approaches to psychological preparation; (5) pharmacological premedication (except for drugs designed to sedate or reduce anxiety, reviewed in the article by Bennie and McNiece); and (6) preoperative feeding schedules.     

Longitudinal evaluation of pulmonary function tests in children with newborn screening for cystic fibrosis. Relationships with pulmonary infection. Study of 40 children undergoing 744 pulmonary function tests]

OBJECTIVES: To report longitudinal assessment of pulmonary function in children with neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis and its relationships with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) chronic infection, nutritional status, sex, age and genotype. POPULATION AND METHODS: Children benefited systematically of 3 visits a year with pulmonary function tests (PFT) and bacteriological examination. Forty children and 744 PFTs were analysed, with 38 children during at least 4 years. RESULTS: We reported a decrease of pulmonary function tests with chronic PA infection and the genotype DeltaF508/DeltaF508. The decline was gradual and not different between not infected and recently infected children. The PFTs of children infected for a long times were very deteriorate, probably due to the fact that they were infected with multiresistant strains of PA. CONCLUSION: We think that it is important to survey pulmonary function before 5 years old in these early infected children. We should determinate if the important decrease of PFT in these early infected children is due to infection by PA mucoid.     

Preoperative risk evaluation in juvenile ileus

Preoperative risk calculation in children with bowel obstruction allows early therapeutic measures to improve prognosis. In a retrospective study the preoperative status was evaluated in 310 newborns and 127 children beyond the newborn period who had to be operated for bowel obstruction. Preoperative parameters were: age, birth weight (newborns), weight, body temperature, red and white blood count, electrolytes, urea-nitrogen, total serum protein, pH, PO2, PCO2 and base excess. These parameters were compared in surviving children and children who died postoperatively. In newborns a statistically significant difference between both groups was found for birth weight, rectal temperature, pH and total serum protein, whereas in children beyond the newborn age the same was true for age, weight and total serum protein. Besides well balanced electrolytes and good management of artificial respiration, total serum protein and in newborns additionally blood-pH and rectal temperature must be normalized preoperatively to reduce the risk in children with bowel obstruction.     

Preoperative pulmonary assessment of children for liver transplantation

Abstract:  Pulmonary assessment should be part of the preoperative investigation of pediatric patients with chronic liver disease undergoing liver transplantation, as it allows the identification of pulmonary alterations that influence candidacy for transplantation and survival. To describe pulmonary changes found in pediatric patients who were candidates for liver transplantation. Retrospective study of 17 pediatric liver transplant candidates undergoing preoperative pulmonary evaluation assessing pulmonary clinical data, arterial blood gas analysis, CXR, respiratory function test by spirometry, pulmonary scintigraphy, and CEE. Ten patients presented normal chest roentgenograms. The most common radiographic change was interstitial infiltrate in the lung bases. Of the five patients with PaO₂ <70 mmHg, four had cyanosis and dyspnea and two were diagnosed with HPS with intrapulmonary shunt evidenced by contrast echocardiogram. Two patients presented with intrapulmonary shunt but without hypoxemia. Spirometry was normal in six patients, restrictive disturbance was evidenced in one patient, obstructive in three, and combined in two. The most common scintigraphic change was heterogeneous pulmonary perfusion. Pulmonary assessment should be performed routinely in pediatric patients prior to liver transplantation, even in asymptomatic patients. Pulmonary assessment may indicate changes such as HPS that can increase postoperative morbidity/mortality.     

Pediatric pulmonary function testing in asthma.

Pulmonary function testing is an important tool in the management of asthma. Lung function can be readily assessed in both the office and patient's home. This article reviews spirometry, peak flow meters, and bronchial challenge testing. Their interpretation and clinical use are presented as well.     

先天性心脏病肺动脉高压手术前后右心功能变化和治疗

目的 了解先天性心脏病左向右分流导致的重度肺动脉高压对右心功能的影响以及手术矫治后右心功能的恢复状态。方法 对室间隔缺损(室缺)合并重度肺动脉高压(全肺循环阻力增加)的40例患儿，用心导管的方法进行术前、术后5～7年右心功能、肺循环的血流动力学随访测定。结果 术前右心心搏指数、作功指数、心排指数显著高于术后；术前右房压、右室收缩压及舒张压、肺动脉压力和阻力均增高，缺损修补后右室舒张压恢复正常，收缩压的降低与肺动脉压力下降有关；大型室缺左向右分流重度肺动脉高压右心功能不全系继发性右室高排出量心力衰竭，且伴有舒张功能障碍。结论 治疗心力衰竭不宜首选正性心肌收缩药物；降低肺动脉压力、减少左向右分流、根治心内畸形是合理的选择；术后右室收缩压持续不能恢复至正常水平，提示继发性肺血管梗阻性病变存在。     

The effects of obesity on pulmonary function.

AIMS: (1) To determine the predominant pulmonary function abnormality in our population of obese children; and (2) to assess the correlation between the severity of lung function impairment and the degree of obesity as assessed by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). METHODS: Sixty four obese patients underwent physical examination, standardised pulmonary function tests (spirometry, lung volumes, and single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide), and DEXA scan measurements. The trunk and subtotal (total - head) body fat mass were used as surrogate index of body adiposity. RESULTS: Sixteen girls and 48 boys with median age and body mass index (BMI) of 12 years (interquartile range (IQR): 10-14) and 30.1 kg/m2 (IQR: 27.2-32.8) respectively were studied. None of the patients had clinical evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. Reduction in functional residual capacity (median FRC 93% predicted, IQR: 68.5-116.5%) and impairment of diffusion capacity (median DLco 83.5% predicted, IQR: 70.0-100.7%) were the most common abnormalities in our cohort, being observed in 30 (46%) and 21 (33%) patients respectively. Obstructive ventilatory impairment was found in three patients. There was significant negative correlation between the degree of reduction of FRC but not DLco with DEXA scan measurements, but such a relation was not found when BMI was used as the indicator of obesity. CONCLUSION: Reduction in FRC and diffusion impairment were the commonest abnormalities found in our cohort of obese patients. Reduction in static lung volume was correlated with the degree of obesity.     

Preoperative cardiopulmonary evaluation in specific neonatal surgery

Preoperative assessment of surgical neonates often relates to issues of prematurity, low birth weight, or associated malformations. This review explores the preoperative cardiopulmonary evaluation in specific newborn surgical populations, the role of echocardiography in congenital diaphragmatic hernia perioperative management, the impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the ex-preterm surgical neonate and a brief discussion on the risk of general anesthesia and specific anesthetic considerations for any surgical neonate.Newborns with congenital anomalies requiring early general surgical intervention should have an assessment for congenital heart disease. In the asymptomatic neonate, a thorough physical exam may be sufficient preoperatively. Neonates born with esophageal atresia or anorectal malformations should have a full evaluation for VACTERL associations. Initial echocardiography in congenital diaphragmatic hernia is used to evaluate anatomy, but there is emerging evidence to suggest the use of echocardiography in the ongoing surveillance of CDH to influence the timing of surgical intervention. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is present in up to 40% of ex-premature neonates and increases the risk of postoperative apneas and need for ventilatory support. However, all surgical neonates have an increased risk of post-operative apneas, and the need for surgical intervention should be balanced with the risk of general anesthesia.     

右室收缩功能对多普勒超声心动图估测肺动脉压的影响

目的 探讨右室射血前期时间／射血加速时间（PEP／AT）和三尖瓣反流压差（ΔPTR）估测肺动脉压的价值和局限性。方法 用HP－8500超声仪测定44例高原性心脏病伴或不伴右室收缩功能减退患儿的PEP／AT、ΔPTR。结果 全部患儿PEP／AT值增高，提示肺动脉高压存在，其中右室收缩功能正常组（RVSNF）ΔPTR结果与PEP／AT一致，右室收缩功能减退组（RVSDF）ΔPTR不能提示肺动脉高压。结论 应用超声估测肺动脉压时应结合心功能对PET／AT、ΔPTR值进行综合分析。     

Preoperative evaluation of choledochal cyst with MR cholangiopancreatography]

The choledochal cyst is a rare congenital disorder usually diagnosed in childhood. It requires a complete surgical resection to prevent complications, particularly the risk of malignant changes. At present, the preoperative examination requires a direct opacification of the biliary tree, but this is an invasive technique with a high risk of infection, especially in pediatric patients. CASE REPORT: A choledochal cyst was diagnosed in a five-year-old girl with recurrent abdominal pain. Diagnosis was made by ultrasound and preoperative evaluation by magnetic resonance-cholangiopancreatography using single-shot fast-spin echo sequences. A complete correlation was observed between surgical, preoperative cholangiography and MRCP data. CONCLUSION: Recent improvement in MRCP techniques provide a complete anatomic analysis of choledochal cysts, enabling one to diagnose an anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary duct, even the presence of stones within the biliary tree. This short and noninvasive examination should in the future replace direct opacification of the biliary tree for the preoperative assessment of choledochal cysts.     

Noninvasive evaluation of ventricular function in cystic fibrosis.

The cardiac function of 21 patients with cystic fibrosis was studied using radionuclides and M-mode echocardiography. The patients (mean age 13.2 years, range 4 to 27) had a wide range of clinical and pulmonary function abnormalities (mean Shwachman-Kulczycki score 62.1). Decreased right ventricular ejection fraction was found in 13 of 18 patients (72%); an additional four patients had abnormal septal motion on ECHO. Left ventricular ejection fraction was abnormal at rest in four patients (19%); an additional four patients had borderline low LVEF. The LV pre-ejection period to ejection time ratio increased significantly (i.e., worsening LV performance) with deterioration of S-K score, chest radiograph score, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Three of eight patients with normal LVEF at rest had an abnormal response to supine bicycle exercise: LVEF fell in two patients and was unchanged in one. Thus evidence of LV dysfunction was observed in seven of 21 (33%) of the patients; four at rest and in three only during exercise.     

Infant pulmonary function testing

Pulmonary function tests in infants have been used for many years, but they have been largely relegated to specialized centers and research purposes. More recently, development of commercial equipment and newer techniques has allowed for more broad use and application of these tests. This review describes different techniques that have been used to study infants and toddlers, and their clinical applications.     

Preoperative ultrasound and gallium-67 evaluation of abdominal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography followed by gallium (Ga)-67 scintigraphy in 21 patients, aged 1 to 14 years, appearing with abdominal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was analyzed. All cases were confirmed by biopsy; in a majority (16 patients), the tissue was obtained from an abdominal mass at the time of laparotomy subsequent to the imaging studies. Nineteen satisfactory abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed; 18 were interpreted as characteristic of NHL. Sixteen of these were of masses involving the gastrointestinal tract. All 21 patients had 67Ga scintigraphy that demonstrated abnormal radionuclide accumulation in the abdomen. In no instance was the final diagnosis different from the one predicted by the combined imaging studies. Ultrasonography is recommended as the initial test in the evaluation of clinical presentations consistent with abdominal NHL to expedite suitable management and prevent inappropriate surgery.