Paediatric Anterior Mediastinal Mass: A Night Mare for the Anaesthesiologist & the Need for a Systematic Evidence Based Approach towards Management of Anterior Mediastinal Mass in Paediatric Population

Abstract

Mediastinal masses have always posed as a nightmare even for the skilful anaesthesiologists. The compression effects, the proximity to major vascular and airway structures, the complex surgical approaches has altogether made both the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures a high risk event. The scenario is more troublesome if the patient is an infant or child. The practice of paediatric thoracic anaesthesia is challenging and paediatric anterior Mediastinal masses have always emerged as night mare for the anaesthesiologists. The ability to envision emerging complications arising out of the anaesthesia procedure or induction and thereby formulation of counteractive resuscitative measures forms the corner stone of safe anaesthesia practice.