Abstract
Agitation during emergence from anaesthesia is a documented phenomenon reported in children especially during immediate postoperative period; also Voluntary breath holding1and laryngospasm. This can lead to complications like postoperative distress, excessive crying, and anxiety. Here we report a case of postoperative respiratory distress in an 8 years old child of cerebral palsy developing severe oropharyngial spasm in the immediate postoperative period. Patient had no preoperative predisposing factors or intaraoperative events that could cause bronchospasm, laryngospasm, inadequate neuromuscular reversal or voluntary holding in the immediate postoperative period. Timely recognition and management of the condition prevented catastrophic complications like severe desaturation, hypoxic injury, negative pressure pulmonary edema or cardiac arrest.
Highlights
Children usually have a relatively higher degree of anxiety in the perioperative period as compared to adults
Voluntary breath-holding,[1] laryngospasm are well-documented phenomena reported in such children, especially during the immediate postoperative period.[2]
Our child had had an acute episode of upper airway obstruction immediately after extubation
Summary
Children usually have a relatively higher degree of anxiety in the perioperative period as compared to adults. This may cause agitation during emergence from anaesthesia and lead to complications like postoperative distress, excessive crying, and anxiety. Voluntary breath-holding,[1] laryngospasm are well-documented phenomena reported in such children, especially during the immediate postoperative period.[2] Here we report a case of postoperative respiratory distress in a child associated with severe oropharyngeal spasm
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