Perioperative respiratory complications in children

Abstract

Respiratory events are a major risk for perioperative morbidity and cause 30% of perioperative cardiac arrests in children. 1 Bhananker SM Ramamoorthy C Geiduschek JM et al. Anesthesia-related cardiac arrest in children: update from the Pediatric Perioperative Cardiac Arrest Registry. Anesth Analg. 2007; 105: 344-350 Crossref PubMed Scopus (418) Google Scholar In The Lancet today, Britta von Ungern-Sternberg and colleagues 2 von Ungern-Sternberg BS Boda K Chambers NA et al. Risk assessment for respiratory complications in paediatric anesthesia: a prospective cohort study. Lancet. 2010; 378: 773-783 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (312) Google Scholar present a prospective cohort of more than 9000 children who had had general anaesthesia in a single children's hospital. The investigators evaluated specific details in the children's history (with the International Study Group for Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [ISAAC] questionnaire), demographic data, and anaesthetic management, and correlated these variables with occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events. 2 von Ungern-Sternberg BS Boda K Chambers NA et al. Risk assessment for respiratory complications in paediatric anesthesia: a prospective cohort study. Lancet. 2010; 378: 773-783 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (312) Google Scholar Multivariate analysis showed that airway sensitivity, eczema, a family history of airway disorders, and anaesthetic management statistically contributed to the risk of such events. Although today's results are mostly consistent with previous studies, they do raise questions. Risk assessment for respiratory complications in paediatric anaesthesia: a prospective cohort studyChildren at high risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events could be systematically identified at the preanaesthetic assessment and thus can benefit from a specifically targeted anaesthesia management. Full-Text PDF