Perioperative Pulmonary Aspiration in Infants and Children

Background: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during the perioperative period in infants and children may be associated with postoperative mortality or pulmonary morbidity. There has not been a recent determination of the frequency of this event and its outcomes in infants and children.

Methods: The authors prospectively identified all cases of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during the perioperative courses of 56,138 consecutive patients younger than 18 yr of age who underwent 63,180 general anesthetics for procedures performed in all surgical specialties from July 1985 through June 1997 at the Mayo Clinic.

Results: Pulmonary aspiration occurred in 24 patients (1: 2,632 anesthetics; 0.04%). Children undergoing emergency procedures had a greater frequency of pulmonary aspiration compared to those undergoing elective procedures (1:373 vs. 1:4,544, P < 0.001). Fifteen of the 24 children who aspirated gastric contents did not develop respiratory symptoms within 2 h of aspiration, and none of these 15 developed pulmonary sequelae. Five of these nine children who aspirated and in whom respiratory symptoms developed within 2 h subsequently had pulmonary complications treated with respiratory support (P < 0.003). Three children were treated with mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h, but no child died of sequelae of pulmonary aspiration.     

A prospective cohort study of emergence agitation in the pediatric postanesthesia care unit

Emergence agitation (EA) is a postanesthetic problem that interferes with a child's recovery and presents a challenge in terms of assessment and management. In this prospective cohort study, we sought to determine the incidence of EA, evaluate factors associated with and predictive of EA, and describe associated outcomes in healthy children. Children aged 3-7 yr who were undergoing general anesthesia for elective outpatient procedures were included. All perioperative care was documented, and postoperative behaviors in the postanesthesia care unit were recorded. Parents completed the Behavioral Style Questionnaire for 3- to 7-yr-olds. Five-hundred-twenty-one children were studied, of whom 96 (18%) had EA. Agitation lasted up to 45 min in some cases (range, 3-45 min; mean, 14 +/- 11 min), required pharmacologic intervention in 52% of children, and was associated with a prolonged postanesthesia care unit stay (117 +/- 66 min versus 101 +/- 61 min for nonagitated children; P = 0.02). Ten factors were found to be associated with EA, including age, previous surgery, adaptability, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology procedures, sevoflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane/isoflurane, analgesics, and time to awakening. Of these, otorhinolaryngology procedures, time to awakening, and isoflurane were shown to be independent risk factors. IMPLICATIONS: Children may become agitated after general anesthesia. This study describes several factors that may increase the risk for agitation. These data are important in planning anesthesia care for young children.     

Nitrous oxide-induced increased homocysteine concentrations are associated with increased postoperative myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy

Nitrous oxide anesthesia causes increased postoperative plasma homocysteine levels. Acute increases in plasma homocysteine are associated with impaired endothelial function and procoagulant effects. This nitrous oxide-induced plasma homocysteine increase may therefore affect the risk of perioperative cardiovascular events. This prospective, randomized study was therefore designed to evaluate the effect of nitrous oxide anesthesia and postoperative plasma homocysteine levels on myocardial ischemia in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. After institutional review board approval and written informed consent, 90 ASA Class I-III patients presenting for elective carotid endarterectomy were randomized to receive general anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide. Prior to induction, on arrival in the postanesthesia care unit, and after 48 h, blood samples were obtained for homocysteine analysis. Three hours prior to induction and for 48 h postoperatively patients were monitored by a three-channel, seven-lead Holter monitor. Postoperatively in the postanesthesia care unit and at 48 h the nitrous oxide group had increased mean plasma homocysteine concentrations of 15.5 +/- 5.9 and 18.8 +/- 14.7 when compared with the nonnitrous group of 11.4 +/- 5.2 and 11.3 +/- 4.0 micromol/L, P: < 0.001. The nitrous oxide group had an increased incidence of ischemia (46% vs. 25%, P: < 0.05), significantly more ischemia (63 +/- 71 vs. 40 +/- 68 min, P: < 0.05), had more ischemic events (82 vs. 53, P: < 0.02), and had more ischemic events lasting 30 min (23 vs. 14, P: < 0.05) than the nonnitrous group. This study reconfirmed that intraoperative nitrous oxide is associated with postoperative increases in plasma homocysteine concentration. This was associated with an increase in postoperative myocardial ischemia. Implications: Use of nitrous oxide during carotid artery surgery induces increases in postoperative plasma homocysteine concentration and is associated with increases in postoperative myocardial ischemia.     

Anesthesia can be safely provided for children in a high-field intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging environment

Objectives: To describe the challenges associated with providing safe anesthesia and perioperative care for children in a remote intraoperative magnetic resonance (iMR) operating room (OR) and to identify perioperative anesthesia outcomes, including adverse events related to the iMR environment. Background: Increasingly, children undergo neurosurgical procedures in a high‐field iMR OR. We describe a 10‐year experience of providing anesthesia for children in this environment with a mobile 1.5‐Tesla magnet. Methods: A 10‐year retrospective analysis was conducted of children who underwent neurosurgical procedures in a high‐field mobile iMR OR. Primary outcomes related to perioperative adverse events and recovery profiles. Results were expressed as mean ± sd or median (range), as appropriate. Results: One hundred and five procedures were performed on 98 children, aged 4 months–18 years, weighing 6–112 kg. The commonest two diagnostic categories were tumor (n = 52) and seizures (n = 27). Median anesthetic time was 439 (185–710) mins. There were no significant adverse events related to the iMR environment. The mean postanesthetic care unit admission temperature was 37 ± 0.9°C and the mean modified Aldrete Score at 30 mins was 7.2 ± 0.9. Two patients experienced seizures in the immediate postoperative period, readily controlled with propofol. There was one breach of MR safety protocol, and no adverse events related to patient transport. Conclusions: Anesthesia and perioperative care of children in an iMR setting were associated with a very low incidence of complications, despite the duration of the procedures involved. Such success depends upon a cohesive team‐based approach.     

Risk Factors for Adverse Postoperative Outcomes in Children Presenting for Cardiac Surgery with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: Otherwise healthy children who present for elective surgery with an upper respiratory infection (URI) may be at risk for perioperative respiratory complications. This risk may be increased in children with congenital heart disease who undergo cardiac surgery while harboring a URI because of their compromised cardiopulmonary status. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the incidence of peri- and postoperative complications in children undergoing cardiac surgery while harboring a URI.

Methods: The study population consisted of 713 children scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery. Of these, 96 had symptoms of URI, and 617 were asymptomatic. Children were followed prospectively from induction of anesthesia to discharge from the hospital to determine the incidence of postoperative respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and surgical adverse events. Duration of postoperative ventilation, time in the intensive care unit (ICU), and length of hospital stay were also recorded.

Results: Children with URIs had a significantly higher incidence of respiratory and multiple postoperative complications than children with no URIs (29.2 vs. 17.3% and 25 vs. 10.3%, respectively;P < 0.01) and a higher incidence of postoperative bacterial infections (5.2 vs. 1.0%;P = 0.01). Furthermore, logistic regression indicated that the presence of a URI was an independent risk factor for multiple postoperative complications and postoperative infections in children undergoing open heart surgery. Children with URIs also stayed longer in the intensive care unit than children with no URIs (75.9 +/- 89.8 h vs. 57.7 +/- 63.8, respectively;P < 0.01). However, the overall length of hospital stay was not significantly different (8.4 vs. 7.8 days, URI vs. non-URI groups;P > 0.05).     

Nursing workload associated with adverse events in the postanesthesia care unit

BACKGROUND: The authors used a nursing task inventory system to assess nursing resources for patients with and without adverse postoperative events in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). METHODS: Over 3 months, 2,031 patients were observed, and each task/activity related to direct patient care was recorded and assigned points according to the Project Research in Nursing (PRN) workload system. PRN values for each patient were merged with data from an anesthesia database containing demographics, anesthesia technique, and postoperative adverse events. Mean and median PRN points were determined by age, sex, duration of procedure, and mode of anesthesia for patients with and without adverse events in the PACU. Three theoretical models were developed to determine the effect of differing rates of adverse events on the requirements for nurses in the PACU. RESULTS: The median workload (PRN points) per patient was 31.0 (25th-75th percentile, 25-46). Median workload was 26 points for patients with no postoperative events and 155 for > or = six adverse events. Workload varied by type of postoperative event (e.g., unanticipated admission to the intensive care unit, median workload = 95; critical respiratory event = 54; and nausea/vomiting = 33). Monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation used less resources compared with general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. Modeling various scenarios (controlling for types of patients) showed that adverse events increased the number of nursing personnel required in the PACU. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing care documentation based on requirements for individual patients demonstrates that the rate of postoperative adverse events affects the amount of nursing resources needed in the PACU.     

Passive smoke exposure is associated with perioperative adverse effects in children

Study Objective

To evaluate the frequency of respiratory adverse events during general anesthesia in children passively exposed to cigarette smoke (PSE).

Design

Prospective, double blinded, observational study.

Setting

Operating room and recovery room of a university hospital.

Measurements

Data were collected from 385 children who underwent elective surgery during general anesthesia from June to November, 2008. PSE was identified by using the child's caregivers' information. Respiratory adverse events were recorded during anesthesia and post-anesthesia.

Main Results

Technique of anesthesia induction and management, distribution of patients' age, gender, surgical procedures, and perioperative analgesic methods were similar in the PSE and non-PSE groups. Respiratory adverse events were reported in 58 patients (15.1%): 50 patients (21.4%) were in the PSE and 8 patients (5.3%) were in the non-PSE group (P = 0.00). The frequency of laryngospasm during anesthesia (P = 0.03) and hypersecretions in the recovery room (P = 0.00) were significantly increased in the PSE group.

Conclusions

Children who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and who undergo general anesthesia seem to have an increased risk of respiratory complications in the recovery period rather than during anesthesia.     

Risk factors for adverse postoperative outcomes in children presenting for cardiac surgery with upper respiratory tract infections

BACKGROUND: Otherwise healthy children who present for elective surgery with an upper respiratory infection (URI) may be at risk for perioperative respiratory complications. This risk may be increased in children with congenital heart disease who undergo cardiac surgery while harboring a URI because of their compromised cardiopulmonary status. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the incidence of peri- and postoperative complications in children undergoing cardiac surgery while harboring a URI. METHODS: The study population consisted of 713 children scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery. Of these, 96 had symptoms of URI, and 617 were asymptomatic. Children were followed prospectively from induction of anesthesia to discharge from the hospital to determine the incidence of postoperative respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and surgical adverse events. Duration of postoperative ventilation, time in the intensive care unit (ICU), and length of hospital stay were also recorded. RESULTS: Children with URIs had a significantly higher incidence of respiratory and multiple postoperative complications than children with no URIs (29.2 vs 17.3% and 25 vs 10.3%, respectively; P< 0.01) and a higher incidence of postoperative bacterial infections (5.2 vs 1.0%; P= 0.01). Furthermore, logistic regression indicated that the presence of a URI was an independent risk factor for multiple postoperative complications and postoperative infections in children undergoing open heart surgery. Children with URIs also stayed longer in the intensive care unit than children with no URIs (75.9 +/- 89.8 h vs 57.7 +/- 63.8, respectively; P< 0.01). However, the overall length of hospital stay was not significantly different (8.4 vs 7.8 days, URI vs non-URI groups; P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a URI was predictive of postoperative infection and multiple complications in children presenting for cardiac surgery. Despite this, the presence of a URI does not appear to affect the patient's overall length of hospital stay nor the development of long-term sequelae.     

Nursing Workload Associated with Adverse Events in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

Background: The authors used a nursing task inventory system to assess nursing resources for patients with and without adverse postoperative events in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

Methods: Over 3 months, 2,031 patients were observed, and each task/activity related to direct patient care was recorded and assigned points according to the Project Research in Nursing (PRN) workload system. PRN values for each patient were merged with data from an anesthesia database containing demographics, anesthesia technique, and postoperative adverse events. Mean and median PRN points were determined by age, sex, duration of procedure, and mode of anesthesia for patients with and without adverse events in the PACU. Three theoretical models were developed to determine the effect of differing rates of adverse events on the requirements for nurses in the PACU.

Results: The median workload (PRN points) per patient was 31.0 (25th-75th percentile, 25-46). Median workload was 26 points for patients with no postoperative events and 155 for >= six adverse events. Workload varied by type of postoperative event (e.g., unanticipated admission to the intensive care unit, median workload = 95; critical respiratory event = 54; and nausea/vomiting = 33). Monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation used less resources compared with general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. Modeling various scenarios (controlling for types of patients) showed that adverse events increased the number of nursing personnel required in the PACU.     

Clonidine for the prevention of emergence agitation in young children: efficacy and recovery profile

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) is a common postoperative problem in young children who have received sevoflurane and isoflurane for general anesthesia. This randomized, double-blinded study evaluated the efficacy of intraoperative clonidine in reducing EA, and describes its recovery profile. METHODS: With Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, children undergoing brief, minimally painful procedures were studied. All children received preemptive analgesia with acetaminophen and ketorolac, sevoflurane for induction, and isoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia. Children received either 2 microg.kg(-1) clonidine or placebo intravenously (i.v.) following induction of anesthesia. Children were observed postoperatively for behavior and side effects, and their parents were telephoned the next day to determine postdischarge recovery characteristics. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty children were included in this study: 59 of whom received clonidine, and 61 placebo; 41% of those in the placebo group exhibited moderate-severe EA compared with only 22% of those in the clonidine group (P < 0.03). Compared with those who received placebo, children who received clonidine awakened more slowly (22 min vs 14 min), had a longer postanesthesia care unit stay (57 min vs 46 min), and experienced sleepiness more frequently after discharge (75% vs 39%; all comparisons significant at P < 0.03). There were no adverse cardiorespiratory events in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that i.v. clonidine administered after induction of anesthesia significantly reduces the incidence of EA in young children, but is associated with sleepiness postoperatively.     

Postoperative adverse respiratory events in preschool patients with inhaled foreign bodies: an analysis of 505 cases

Objectives: To identify the risk factors associated with postoperative adverse respiratory events in preschool‐aged children with inhaled foreign bodies (FBs) undergoing rigid bronchoscopy. Background: Foreign bodies aspiration is the most common cause of admission in pediatric emergency in otolaryngology service. Performance of rigid bronchoscopy is the standard treatment for removal of FBs in children. In some cases, severe respiratory events (complete laryngospasm and pneumothorax) may cause anesthesia‐related morbidity and mortality. However, the association between patient‐related factors and postoperative complications in preschool‐aged children with inhaled FBs undergoing rigid bronchoscopy is unclear. Methods: We carried out a large prospective, single‐institution review of anesthesia for 505 American Society of Anesthesiologists I–III preschool children aged ≤7 with inhaled FBs undergoing rigid bronchoscopy. Patients with postoperative adverse respiratory events were classified into two groups: the minor events group [hemorrhage, minor desaturation, and partial laryngospasm (wheezing, stridor, and dyspnea)) and the major events group (complete laryngospasm, including major desaturation, and pneumothorax). Results: The incidence of postoperative adverse respiratory events was 9.5% in preschool‐aged children with inhaled FBs undergoing rigid bronchoscopy. Preoperative respiratory impairment was associated with an increased risk for the complicate (P < 0.01). Pneumothorax occurred in 4 (0.8%) patients. There was 1 (0.2%) death from severe respiratory‐related complications. Conclusions: Preoperative respiratory impairment may develop the patients with FBs into postoperative adverse respiratory events.     

Intra- and postoperative adverse events in children with nephrotic syndrome requiring surgery under general anesthesia

Background: There are few data regarding perioperative adverse events in children with nephrotic syndrome. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the nature and frequency of perioperative adverse events in children with nephrotic syndrome. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study from a large university pediatric hospital. All procedures under general anesthesia in children with nephrotic syndrome between January 1995 and May 2007 were included, with the exception of renal transplantation. Data were collected on demographics, etiology of nephrotic syndrome and related treatments, surgical procedures and anesthetic techniques, and pre‐ and postoperative treatments. Adverse events occurring during the intraoperative period and up to the fifth postoperative day were recorded. Results: Data on eight patients who underwent 24 surgical or interventional procedures under general anesthesia over the study period were reviewed. Three patients had steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome and five patients had congenital or infantile nephrotic syndrome. Five patients had progressed to end‐stage renal failure requiring dialysis. General anesthesia was performed for: nephrectomy (n = 9), central venous catheter insertion (n = 8), peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion (n = 5), and emergency surgery in two cases (acute intestinal intussusception and hemodialysis catheter insertion). Three patients were receiving aspirin and one anticoagulant therapy. No postoperative thrombosis or infections, bleeding, peripheral edema or ascites, and increase in kalemia were noted. There was no significant postoperative increase in median serum creatinine level. Conclusions: Surgical procedures were seldom associated with the occurrence of perioperative adverse events. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these results.     

Continuous infusion of ropivacaïne: an optimal postoperative analgesia regimen for iliac crest bone graft in children

Background: Postoperative analgesia of iliac crest (IC) donor site can be performed by on site infiltrations of local anesthetics (LA) or morphine. Single injections or continuous infusions of LA proved their efficacy in adults, but was not reported in children. We prospectively evaluated the interest of a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaïne at the IC donor site in terms of postoperative pain relief and rescue analgesics consumption. Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients, aged from 4 to 16 years scheduled for maxillar alveolar graft with IC bone, were included. After IC bone graft surgery under general anesthesia, they received a 0.2–0.4 ml·kg^?1 bolus of 0.2% ropivacaïne through the IC catheter; then a continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaïne at 0.125 ml·kg^?1·h^?1 was administrated for 48 h with disposable elastomeric pumps. Children systematically received paracetamol (15 mg·kg^?1 four times a day) and niflumic acid (40 mg·kg^?1 twice a day). Postoperative pain was evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (>7 years old) or Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Score (between 4 and 7 years old) every 4 h until H48. Doses of rescue analgesics and adverse events (LA toxicity, catheter’s removal, nausea–vomiting) were also noted. Three months after surgery a blinded clinical research assistant reviewed all children and assessed functional recovery, neuropathic chronic pain symptoms or local complications. Results: The median value of IC graft pain scores was 0 during whole studied period. Of the patients, 31.2% did not require any rescue analgesics and 43.8% needed only once. No adverse events related to LA and no removal of catheter were noted. One child had nausea in the 48‐h postoperative period, and one child had neuropathic pain symptoms at 3 months at the donor site. Conclusion: Continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaïne through an IC catheter is an optimal and safe technique of regional postoperative analgesia after bone graft harvest in children.     

Respiratory and hemodynamic perioperative adverse events in intravenous versus inhalational induction in pediatric anesthesia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Perioperative respiratory and hemodynamic adverse events are still a cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric anesthesia. It has been suggested that volatile agents might be associated with more respiratory adverse events compared to intravenous agents (eg, propofol), which have been associated with a higher risk of bradycardia compared to volatile agents. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the risk of perioperative hemodynamic and respiratory adverse events, comparing intravenous induction with inhalational induction in pediatric anesthesia. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Medline up to February 12, 2020. Randomized controlled trials were included. A quality assessment was carried out using a modified version of the “Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials.” Of the 1602 applicable publications, four were included in the final review. Two studies found no significant differences in perioperative respiratory or hemodynamic adverse events. Two studies found a higher risk of respiratory perioperative adverse events in inhalation versus intravenous induction, with a relative risk varying from 1.64 to 3.83. Data were heterogenous, and pooled estimates may not be reliable. The present systematic review and meta‐analysis revealed no significant difference in the occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events between inhalation and intravenous induction. More respiratory adverse events during and after inhalation induction were found, in particular in children with multiple risk factors for respiratory adverse events. This did not reach significance. Future research should include a large randomized controlled trial comparing inhalation and intravenous induction with respiratory and hemodynamic adverse events as primary outcome and adequately blinded outcome assessors.     

Risk factors for adverse events in children with colds emerging from anesthesia: a logistic regression

BACKGROUND: Recent upper respiratory infection (URI) in children increases respiratory adverse events following anesthesia for elective surgery. The increased risk continues weeks after resolution of acute URI symptoms. Few systematic analyses have explored specific risk factors. This logistic regression explores the relationship between preoperative URI symptoms and adverse events during emergence from anesthesia. METHODS: Data were combined from control groups of several prospective observational and interventional studies in elective pediatric anesthesia in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. In each study, a blinded observer, distinct from the anesthesia care team, prospectively recorded the presence of stridor, oxygen desaturations (and their duration), coughing and laryngospasm. Parents were subsequently asked about the presence of 10 cold symptoms during the 6 weeks prior to operation. RESULTS: Our model, based on a dataset of 335 patients, did not demonstrate an association between any particular symptoms and the rate of respiratory adverse events during emergence from anesthesia, with the exception of low-grade fever which appeared to be mildly protective. Respiratory adverse events were affected by the airway management technique (device used and timing of extubation), and adverse events were increased if peak URI symptoms had occurred within the preceding 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Specific preoperative symptoms were not useful in predicting respiratory adverse events during emergence from anesthesia.     

Laryngeal mask airway is associated with an increased incidence of adverse respiratory events in children with recent upper respiratory tract infections

BACKGROUND: The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been advocated as an alternative technique to tracheal intubation for airway management of children with recent upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). The authors determined the occurrence of adverse respiratory events and identified the associated risk factors to assess the safety of LMA in children. METHODS: During a period of 5 months, parents of children scheduled to undergo general anesthesia with an LMA were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their child's medical history and potential symptoms of URI. In addition, all episodes of adverse respiratory events in the perioperative period (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coughing, airway obstruction, and oxygen desaturation) as well as details of anesthesia management were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 831 children included in the study, 27% presented with a history of a recent URI within the last 2 weeks before anesthesia. The presence of a recent URI doubled the incidence of laryngospasm (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.0), coughing (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.3), and oxygen desaturation (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8). This incidence was even higher in young children; in those undergoing ear, nose, and throat surgery; and when there were multiple attempts to insert the LMA. CONCLUSION: An LMA used in children with recent URIs was associated with a higher incidence of laryngospasm, cough, and oxygen desaturation compared with healthy children. However, the overall incidence of adverse respiratory events was low, suggesting that if anesthesiologists allow at least a 2-week interval after a URI, they can safely proceed with anesthesia using an LMA.     

Perioperative complications in children with pulmonary hypertension undergoing general anesthesia with ketamine

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with significant perioperative risk for major complications in children, including pulmonary hypertensive crisis and cardiac arrest. Uncertainty remains about the safety of ketamine anesthesia in this patient population. Aim: Retrospectively review the medical records of children with PAH to ascertain the nature and frequency of peri‐procedural complications and to determine whether ketamine administration was associated with peri‐procedural complications. Methods: Children with PAH (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance index ≥3 Wood units) who underwent general anesthesia for procedures during a 6‐year period (2002–2008) were enrolled. Details about the patient, PAH, procedure, anesthetic and postprocedural course were noted, including adverse events during or within 48 h of the procedure. Complication rates were reported per procedure. Association between ketamine and peri‐procedural complications was tested. Results: Sixty‐eight children (median age 7.3 year, median weight 22 kg) underwent 192 procedures. Severity of PAH was mild (23%), moderate (37%), and severe (40%). Procedures undertaken were major surgery (n = 20), minor surgery (n = 27), cardiac catheterization (n = 128) and nonsurgical procedures (n = 17). Ketamine was administered during 149 procedures. Twenty minor and nine major complications were noted. Incidence of cardiac arrest was 0.78% for cardiac catheterization procedures, 10% for major surgical procedures and 1.6% for all procedures. There was no procedure‐related mortality. Ketamine administration was not associated with increased complications. Conclusions: Ketamine appears to be a safe anesthetic option for children with PAH. We report rates for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mortality that are more favorable than those previously reported.     

Deep or awake removal of laryngeal mask airway in children at risk of respiratory adverse events undergoing tonsillectomy—a randomised controlled trial

Background

Laryngeal mask airways (LMA) are widely used during tonsillectomies. Contrasting evidence exists regarding the timing of the removal and the risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. We assessed whether the likelihood of perioperative respiratory adverse events is influenced by the timing of LMA removal in children with at least one risk factor for these events.

Pediatric anesthesia morbidity and mortality in the perioperative period

One of the most frequent questions asked of a pediatric anesthesiologist is "What are the risks of anesthesia for my child?" Unfortunately, few studies have examined the consequences of general anesthesia in children. We used data from a large pediatric anesthesia follow-up program at Winnipeg Children's Hospital (1982-1987) to determine rates of perioperative adverse events among children of different ages. A check-off form was completed by a pediatric anesthesiologist for each case (n = 29,220) and a designated follow-up reviewer examined all anesthesia forms and hospital charts to ascertain adverse effects for children less than 1 mo, 1-12 mo, 1-5 yr, 6-10 yr, and 11-16 yr of age in the intraoperative, recovery room, and postoperative periods. The majority of the children were healthy, and 70% had no preoperative medical conditions. Infants less than 1 mo old were more likely to be undergoing major cardiac or vascular procedures, whereas the older children had mainly orthopedic or otolaryngologic procedures. Infants less than 1 mo old had the highest rate of adverse events both intraoperatively and in the recovery room. The main problem in this age group was related to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In children over 5 yr of age, postoperative nausea and vomiting was very frequent, with about one-third of the children experiencing this problem. When all events were considered (both major and minor), there was a risk of an adverse event in 35% of the pediatric cases. This contrasts with 17% for adults. This morbidity survey helps to focus on areas of intervention and for further study.     

Laryngeal Mask Airway Is Associated with an Increased Incidence of Adverse Respiratory Events in Children with Recent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been advocated as an alternative technique to tracheal intubation for airway management of children with recent upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). The authors determined the occurrence of adverse respiratory events and identified the associated risk factors to assess the safety of LMA in children.

Methods: During a period of 5 months, parents of children scheduled to undergo general anesthesia with an LMA were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their child's medical history and potential symptoms of URI. In addition, all episodes of adverse respiratory events in the perioperative period (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coughing, airway obstruction, and oxygen desaturation) as well as details of anesthesia management were recorded.

Results: Among the 831 children included in the study, 27% presented with a history of a recent URI within the last 2 weeks before anesthesia. The presence of a recent URI doubled the incidence of laryngospasm (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.0), coughing (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.3), and oxygen desaturation (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8). This incidence was even higher in young children; in those undergoing ear, nose, and throat surgery; and when there were multiple attempts to insert the LMA.