Pitfalls of anesthesiologic management in paediatric strabismus surgery

Strabismus surgery is one of the most common paediatric operation procedures. As associated with congenital syndrome, congenital heart disease and neuromuscular disorder, the anesthesiologic management has to be planned carefully. Considering high incidences of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) anesthesia can be performed to decrease both. Induction of anesthesia with ketamine or midzolam reduces risk of oculocardiac reflex, whereas propofol or remifentanil lead to higher incidences of OCR. A combination anti-emetic therapy from different drug classes is recommend to patients at high risk for nausea and vomiting like patients undergoing strabismus surgery. A combination therapy of ondansetron and dexamethasone lead to a risk reduction of PONV to at least 10 %. Further, the incidence of OCR and PONV is significantly reduced in children receiving peribulbar block on top of general anaesthesia.