Paediatric anaesthesia
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 1997
Case ReportsPulmonary aspiration of gastric contents after a priming dose of vecuronium.
A case is presented of a 16-year-old girl with ectodermal dysplasia for whom dental surgery under general anaesthesia was planned. Following a priming dose of vecuronium, and immediately after injection of sodium thiopentone (5 mg.kg-1) pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents occurred. It is hypothesized that, because of the rapid speed of onset of neuromuscular blocking agents on the laryngeal muscles, that partial laryngeal paralysis was present at the time of induction of anaesthesia and that this was responsible in part for the episode of pulmonary aspiration.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 1997
Case ReportsGeneral anaesthesia may improve the success rate of hydrostatic reductions of intussusception.
Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in young children. Hydrostatic enemas result in a successful reduction of intussusception in 50% to 80% of patients. ⋯ Recent paediatric literature suggests that induction of general anaesthesia may improve the success rate of therapeutic hydrostatic enema. We report a difficult case of recurrent intussusception where the induction of general anaesthesia alone did not result in reduction of intussusception, but successful reduction by enema was achieved while the patient was anaesthetized.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Jan 1997
Perioperative management of children with third degree heart block undergoing pacemaker placement: a ten year review.
It has been suggested that children with third degree heart block require insertion of a temporary pacemaker prior to general anaesthesia. This recommendation needs to be reevaluated with the availability of noninvasive transcutaneous cardiac pacing. We undertook a retrospective ten-year chart review of anaesthesia in children with third degree heart block undergoing pacemaker insertion or revision. ⋯ In children who were not being paced, 60% had baseline heart rates less than 60 bpm. Complications seen in this study, including hypotension, would not have been prevented by temporary pacemaker placement. We conclude that there is no benefit to routine preoperative temporary pacing in children with third degree heart block.