Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2018
Identification of perioperative pulmonary aspiration in children using quality assurance and hospital administrative billing data.
Perioperative aspiration is a rare but potentially devastating complication, occurring in 1-10 per 10 000 anesthetics based on studies of quality assurance databases. Quality assurance reporting is known to underestimate the incidence of adverse outcomes, but few large studies use supplementary data sources. This study aims to identify the incidence of and risk factors for perioperative aspiration in children using quality assurance data supplemented by administrative billing records, and to examine the utility of billing data as a supplementary data source. ⋯ Quality assurance data offer an efficient way to measure the incidence of rare events, but may underestimate perioperative complications. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for aspiration used as a secondary data source were nonspecific for perioperative aspiration, but when combined with record review yielded a 30% increase in identified cases of aspiration over quality assurance data alone. The use of administrative data therefore holds potential for supplementing quality assurance studies of rare complications.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2018
Comparative Study Observational StudyCuffed endotracheal tubes in infants less than 3 kg: A retrospective cohort study.
Cuffed endotracheal tubes are being increasingly used in infants; however, current evidence in the literature mostly includes infants ≥ 3-kg weight. ⋯ This retrospective study with a small sample size found that Microcuff® cuffed endotracheal tubes may be safe in neonates < 3 kg. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to address this issue definitively.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2018
Review Meta AnalysisCaudal and intravenous dexamethasone as an adjuvant to pediatric caudal block: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dexamethasone has become a popular additive for regional anesthesia. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of this additive on the duration of postoperative analgesia, postoperative vomiting, and possible adverse events in pediatrics. ⋯ Caudal and intravenous dexamethasone could provide longer duration of postoperative analgesia and reduced the incidence of postoperative vomiting with comparable adverse effects than plain caudal block. However, any additive to the caudal space carries with it the potential for neurotoxicity and that caution should always be exercised when weighting the risks and benefits of any additive. The result was influenced by small numbers of participants and significant heterogeneity.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2018
Multicenter Study Observational StudyPersistent pain following common outpatient surgeries in children: A multicenter study in Italy.
The prevalence of persistent postsurgical pain in children is over 20% after major surgeries; however, data are scarce on the prevalence, character, and risk factors among children undergoing common ambulatory surgeries. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of persistent pain following pediatric ambulatory surgery at 1, 3, and 6 months. Secondary aims were to identify risk factors and characterize the pain and consequences of persistent postsurgical pain. ⋯ Our data support the presence of persistent pain in pediatric patients after common surgeries. Most patients who developed persistent pain at 6 months had pain at 1 month. We recommend questioning at follow-up visit about persistent pain and functional impairment with follow-up until resolution.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2018
Role of ultrasound guided epidural anesthesia for lower limb surgery in children with previously repaired meningomyelocele.
Children that have had a meningomyelocele repair often present for hip and bilateral lower limb surgeries. Due to vertebral, epidural, and nerve root abnormalities, placement of epidural catheter is difficult. ⋯ Ultrasound guidance aids in identification of normal intervertebral space and explicitly shows the abnormal space. It can be used as an aid to differentiate between normal and abnormal space in post-meningomyelocele repair.