Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2010
Review Meta AnalysisEfficacy of postoperative epidural analgesia in adolescent scoliosis surgery: a meta-analysis.
Scoliosis surgery is one of the most painful operations performed. Postoperative pain management has been historically based on the use of intravenous opioids. Many of the adolescents who undergo these procedures are at increased risk for opioid-related side effects because of underlying medical problems. Epidural analgesia has been demonstrated to provide superior pain control with fewer side effects for chest and abdominal surgery in children as well as adults. We aim to analyze the available literature for sufficient evidence to allow recommendations regarding the use of epidural analgesia with parenteral opioids vs. intravenous opioids only. ⋯ Epidural analgesia is beneficial to patients in terms of improving pain control and reducing side effects. The influence on respiratory depression, length of stay in the intensive care unit, or mortality is not available in the literature at this time.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Dec 2009
Review Meta AnalysisUltrasound guided internal jugular vein access in children and infant: a meta-analysis of published studies.
Central venous catheter placement is technically difficult in pediatric population especially in the younger patients. Ultrasound prelocation and/or guidance (UPG) of internal jugular vein (IJV) access has been shown to decrease failure rate and complications related to this invasive procedure. The goal of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the advantages of UPG over anatomical landmarks (AL) during IJV access in children and infants. ⋯ This current meta-analysis does not found the utility of ultrasound during IJV access in children and infants in increasing the success rate and in decreasing complications.
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The need for consent to regional anesthetic procedures varies considerably between countries. It is likely that legislation and professional guidance will tighten consent procedures, and in several countries detailed written consent is required for regional blockade. This article discusses aspects of consent to regional anesthesia in children.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Oct 2009
ReviewWithholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in children.
Modern medicine gives us the ability to prolong life even in situations where it may not be right to do so. This article discusses some of the complex ethical and legal issues surrounding withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in children, including the concepts of futility, best interests and intolerability. We advocate the use of a structured framework to help guide decision-making, particularly in the more difficult situations. The lack of a morally or legally significant difference between withholding and withdrawing treatment is discussed, as is the role of the doctrine of double effect (particularly in relation to the use of neuromuscular blocking agents during withdrawal of ventilatory support).