Paediatric anaesthesia
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2019
Gastric content assessed with gastric ultrasound in paediatric patients prescribed a light breakfast prior to general anaesthesia. A prospective observational study.
A light breakfast has been found to empty from the stomach within 4 hours in healthy volunteers. ⋯ A light breakfast 4 hours prior to induction may be considered, but there is need for further studies on safe limits for the volume ingested.
-
Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2019
Neonatal ICU Patients Recovering in the PACU: An Observational Analysis of Post-Extubation Complications.
Neonatal patients are at higher risk in the perioperative period than older infants and children. Extubation as an early goal for noenatal intensive care unit patients presenting for surgery is undergoing a renaissance period, and an exploration of adverse events following selection for extubation immediately after general anesthesia has not specifically been undertaken in this population. ⋯ The most important factors associated with major events in the post anesthesia care unit following extubation of neonatal intensive care unit patients were birth weight < 1.58 kg and postmenstrual age at surgery < 41 weeks. A patient with both features has a 7-fold increase in the odds of a major respiratory event in the post anesthesia care unit. Careful consideration of the postoperative ventilation and monitoring strategy must be given to patients with low birth weight (<1.58 kg) or who are <41 weeks postmenstrual age at the time of surgery.