Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of epidural clonidine on minimum local anesthetic concentration (ED50) of levobupivacaine for caudal block in children.
Clonidine has the potential to significantly prolong the duration of caudal epidural anesthesia. We investigated the effect of the addition of clonidine to the MLAC of levobupivacaine in a randomized controlled dose-response trial. ⋯ Clonidine produces a local anesthetic sparing effect with a dose-dependent decrease in levobupivacaine MLAC for caudal anesthesia. In addition, there is a dose-dependent prolongation of postoperative analgesia following lower abdominal surgery in children. A dose of 2 μg·kg(-1) of clonidine provides the optimum balance between improved analgesia and minimal side effects.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyComparison of effective inspired concentration of sevoflurane in preterm infants with different postconceptual ages.
Screening examination for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is stressful and painful to the neonate. Sevoflurane has been used successfully in anesthesia for full-term and premature neonates and has been recently used for pediatric outpatient procedures. In this study, we examined the effective inspired concentration of sevoflurane to prevent movement in response to stimulation of examination in 50% of patients (EIC50) of sevoflurane, as well as the response of sevoflurane to age in the preterm outpatients undergoing fundus examination. ⋯ Anesthesia with inhaled sevoflurane by a face mask can be accomplished in preterm outpatients undergoing fundus examination without intubation and i.v. accession. The EIC50 is lower, and the induction time is shorter in smaller aged patients compared with those in older ones.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyThe difficult pediatric airway--a review of new devices for indirect laryngoscopy in children younger than two years of age.
During the last decade, several new look-around-corner or video airway devices have proven useful in clinical adult practice. Only four of them are currently available in sizes that may be used in children younger than 2 years of age: the AIRTRAQ® Disposable Optical Laryngoscope (Prodol Meditec, Vizcaya, Spain), the GlideScope® Video Laryngoscope (Verathon, Bothell, WA, USA), the Storz DCI® Video Laryngoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany), and the Truview PCD™ Infant (Truphatek, Netanya, Israel). ⋯ The size of the device and the mouth opening it requires determines its usefulness in the smallest infants. Training will be necessary in implementing and deciding when to use the new airway devices, although one of the big challenges of the future will be to maintain the teaching and training of fiber-optic-guided intubations, which remain the gold standard in difficult endotracheal intubations.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2011
Emergency cricothyrotomy in infants--evaluation of a novel device in an animal model.
According to different algorithms of airway management, emergency cricothyrotomy is the final step in managing an otherwise not accessible airway. As an alternative to an open surgical procedure, minimally invasive approaches exist. Quicktrach baby™ is a commercially available set for a minimal invasive cricothyrotomy in infants. The set consists of a plastic cannula over a metal needle for direct placement in the trachea. So far, this device has not been evaluated for its intended use. ⋯ Quicktrach™ baby proved to be a reliable technique. In the animal model, it is easy and fast to perform. Only a few minor complications occurred. Sufficient ventilation was possible in all attempts.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Feb 2011
Segmental distribution of high-volume caudal anesthesia in neonates, infants, and toddlers as assessed by ultrasonography.
The aim of this prospective, age-stratified, observational study was to determine the cranial extent of spread of a large volume (1.5 ml·kg(-1) , ropivacaine 0.2%), single-shot caudal epidural injection using real-time ultrasonography. ⋯ This study found an inverse relationship between age, weight, and height and the number of segments covered by a caudal injection of 1.5 ml·kg(-1) of ropivacaine 0.2% in children 0-4 years of age. However, the cranial spread of local anesthetics within the spinal canal as assessed by immediate ultrasound visualization was found to be in poor agreement with previously published predictive equations that are based on actual cutaneous dermatomal testing.