Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
Comment Letter Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of augmented reality on preoperative anxiety in children and adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Comments on Chamberland et al.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
The implementation of a pectus bar insertion enhanced recovery after surgery pathway: A quality improvement initiative.
Pectus excavatum repair is associated with significant discomfort, and pain is a primary contributor to postoperative hospital length of stay. Recent advances in postoperative pain control include the use of intercostal cryoablation techniques that may now make it possible to discharge patients on the day of surgery. Unnecessary variation in patient care and noncompliance with care bundles may be a factor in extended length of stay. The global aim of this quality improvement initiative was to successfully implement an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway on patients undergoing pectus excavatum repair. The SMART aim was to have a greater than 70% compliance for the perioperative bundle elements within 1 year of the pathway implementation. ⋯ Employing a multidisciplinary approach in both planning and execution that standardized clinician practices and minimized unnecessary variation in patient care, an ERAS pathway for pectus bar insertion has been successfully established at our institution.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2024
Effect of bivalirudin on coagulation in neonatal (cord) and adult human blood in vitro.
Bivalirudin is recommended as an alternative to heparin in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Although it has been used in infants and children for this indication, there is a paucity of data on the pharmacologic effects of bivalirudin in neonates. Given the immaturity of the hemostatic system in neonates, we hypothesized that coagulation responses to bivalirudin in this population would be different than in adults. ⋯ This study demonstrates that bivalirudin has greater potency in cord blood in vitro than in adult blood. Plasma degradation appears to proceed more rapidly in cord blood than in adults. Both of these findings should be considered when planning dosing regimens in neonatal patients.