Paediatric anaesthesia
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Providing effective acute pain management to hospitalized children can help improve outcomes, decrease length of stay, and increase patient and parental satisfaction. Error traps (circumstances that lead to erroneous actions or undesirable consequences) can result in inadequately controlled pain, unnecessary side effects, and adverse events. ⋯ They include failure to appropriately assess pain, optimally utilize regional anesthesia, select suitable systemic analgesics, identify and treat medication-related side effects, and consider patient characteristics when choosing medication or dosing route. These issues are easily addressed when the clinician is cognizant of ways to anticipate, identify, and mitigate or avoid these errors.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Review Meta AnalysisFluid Bolus Administration in Children, Who Responds and How?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Fluid boluses are frequently utilized in children. Despite their frequency of use, there is little objective data regarding the utility of fluid boluses, who they benefit the most, and what the effects are. ⋯ Fluid blouses increase arterial blood pressure or cardiac output by 10% in approximately 56% of pediatric patients. Fluid blouses lead to significant decrease in HR and significant increases in cardiac output, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance. Limited published data are available on the effects of fluid blouses on systemic oxygen delivery.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Observational StudyThe Association Between Carotid Flow Time and Fluid Responsiveness in Children Under General Anesthesia.
Fluid administration in children undergoing surgery requires precision, however, determining fluid responsiveness can be challenging. Ultrasound has been used widely in the emergency department and intensive care units as a noninvasive, bedside manner of determining volume status, but the intraoperative period presents unique challenges as often the chest and abdomen are inaccessible for ultrasound. We investigate whether carotid artery ultrasound, specifically carotid flow time, can be used to determine fluid responsiveness in children under general anesthesia. ⋯ Flow time increases with initiation of positive pressure ventilation and after administration of a fluid bolus. FTc may serve as an indicator of fluid status but does not predict fluid responsiveness in children under general anesthesia.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized controlled trial of low vs high oxygen during neonatal anesthesia: Oxygenation, feasibility, and oxidative stress.
To reduce risk for intermittent hypoxia a high fraction of inspired oxygen is routinely used during anesthesia induction. This differs from the cautious dosing of oxygen during neonatal resuscitation and intensive care and may result in significant hyperoxia. ⋯ We conclude that in healthy newborn infants, use of low oxygen during general anesthesia was feasible, while the prevailing practice of using high levels of inspired oxygen resulted in significant hyperoxia. The trade-off between careful dosing of oxygen and risks of hypo- and hyperoxia in neonatal anesthesia should be further examined.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Practice what you teach: an approach to integrate airway education for experienced anesthesia clinicians.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted clinician education. To address this challenge, our divisional difficult airway program (AirEquip) designed and implemented small-group educational workshops for experienced clinicians. Our primary aim was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a small-group, flexible-curriculum skills workshop conducted during the clinical workday. Secondary objectives were to evaluate whether our workshop increased confidence in performing relevant skills and to assess the work-effort required for the new program. ⋯ It is feasible and acceptable to incorporate expert-led skills training into the clinical workday. Alongside conferences and large-format instruction, this modality enhances the way we are able to share knowledge with our colleagues. This concept can likely be applied to other skills in various clinical settings.