Paediatric anaesthesia
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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.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Observational StudyTarget insertion depth of nasopharyngeal temperature probes in children: A prospective observational study analyzing magnetic resonance images.
Core temperature monitoring is indispensable to prevent children from perioperative thermal perturbations. Although nasopharyngeal measurements are commonly used in anesthesia and considered to reflect core temperature accurately, standardized target depths for probe insertion are unknown in children. ⋯ Height-based formulas could be a valuable proxy for the insertion depth of nasopharyngeal temperature probes. Further clinical trials are necessary to investigate their measurement accuracy.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Case ReportsDiagnostic and therapeutic application of thoracic epidural in a child with intractable cardiac arrhythmias. A case report.
A 3-year-old boy presented with episodes of uneasiness and transient loss of consciousness. Atrial tachyarrhythmias with rapid ventricular rate was diagnosed and initially unsuccessfully treated with oral antiarrhythmic drugs. Subsequent Holter monitoring revealed ventricular arrhythmias. ⋯ Initially, sympathectomy was achieved using a continuous high thoracic epidural block and was performed to ascertain the efficacy of the thoracic sympathectomy. This successfully reduced the ventricular arrhythmias and the need for antiarrhythmic agents. The epidural infusion was also used for pain relief following the subsequent surgical sympathectomy.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Sep 2022
Case ReportsA Case Report: Anesthetic Management for Open-Heart Surgery in a Child with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis.
Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare disease also known as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. CIPA is characterized by a lack of pain sensitivity and impaired development of sweat glands. Surgery is required for patients with self-mutilation and skeletal developmental disorders. ⋯ Although there have been a few cases of CIPA patients receiving surgery and anesthesia, the number is very limited. Here, we report a case of a child with CIPA who underwent open-heart surgery and discuss the anesthetic considerations. We conclude that patients with CIPA undergoing open-heart surgery require some opioids, that muscle relaxants and volatile anesthetics should be used with extreme caution, and that airway management and temperature control require special attention.