Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2008
ReviewDuchenne muscular dystrophy: an old anesthesia problem revisited.
Patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy suffer from a progressive deterioration in muscle secondary to a defect in the dystrophin gene. As such, they are susceptible to perioperative respiratory, cardiac and other complications, such as rhabdomyolysis. ⋯ This article reviews perioperative 'MH-like' reactions reported in muscular dystrophy patients and groups them into three categories according to clinical presentation. The etiology and underlying pathophysiological process responsible for these reactions is discussed and recommendations are proposed for the safe anesthetic management of these patients.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe Proseal laryngeal mask airway in children: a comparison between two insertion techniques.
The Proseal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) is a relatively new supraglottic airway device with a drain tube to minimize the risk of gastric insufflation and aspiration. We compared introducer tool (IT) and gum elastic bougie (GEB)-guided techniques for insertion of the Proseal LMA in children. ⋯ A gum elastic bougie-guided insertion technique in children is comparable with the IT technique in terms of success rate and may be useful as a backup technique when the IT technique fails.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialDo not mask the mask: use it as a premedicant.
Preoperative anxiety frequently causes resistance to mask application and prolongs induction. Anesthesia masks resembling popular heroes or toys was used to deal with this problem. An anesthesia mask given on a preoperative visit to play with at home, may aid to establish a familiarity with the mask and alleviate mask fear, possibly making a gaseous induction more acceptable. ⋯ Playing with an anesthesia mask given during a preanesthesia visit relieved anxiety, improved mask acceptance quality and shortened the induction period. We believe that this type of premedication would be feasible in gaseous induction of anesthesia in children.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2008
Clinical TrialMaternal heart rate variability just before surgery significantly correlated with emergence behavior of children undergoing general anesthesia.
Emergence agitation in pediatric anesthesia is associated with preanesthesia child anxiety, which is strongly influenced by maternal mental conditions. Mental stress affects the autonomic nervous system, thereby influencing heart rate variability (HRV). The present study tested the correlations between preanesthesia maternal HRV and perioperative child behavior. ⋯ Two-hour maternal HRV just before surgery significantly correlated with emergence behavior of children undergoing general anesthesia.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2008
Does the Italian pediatric anesthesia training program adequately prepare residents for future clinical practice? What should be done?
Pediatric anesthesia should be considered a subspecialty addressing the complete pediatric population (from preterm to teenager) and requiring particular anatomical, pathophysiological, pharmacological and anesthesiological knowledge. A survey was conducted to evaluate the training in pediatric anesthesia performed by Medical Schools of Anesthesia in Italy and to assess if the European Federation of Associations of Pediatric Anesthesia (FEAPA) guidelines for training in pediatric anesthesia had been adopted. ⋯ In Italy, the FEAPA guidelines have not yet been completely adopted. The experience of a dedicated unit for pediatric anesthesia will be invaluable to define operative guidelines, courses and to establish the minimum equipment necessary for pediatric management in nonspecialist hospitals.