PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA  SMART 2004 - Milan, May 12-14, 2004 Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2004 May;70(5):387-91

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Mortality in pediatric anesthesia

Rothstein P.

Anestesia Clinica e Pediatrica Clinica College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York

In last the 50 years many studies have described the causes of mortalty. In newborns and infants between 5 and 6 months the risk is higher. The heart is not developped as in older/grown child and these infants need more oxigen than the older ones. Probably, the interaction or interference of positive pressure ventilation with the neonatal circulation is an important cause leading to this pathology. In many studies the authors have identified this risk in the administration of alothane. A more comprehensive literature is needed about sevoflurane in order to know if it is effective. The incidence of complications with an was twice higher than the incidence with a pediatric anesthetis. In the 50s, there have been many changes in our operational methods. Actually, we need more randomizzed and controlled studies to answer the question oh what is the cause of mortality and what we will be able to do in the future to prevent infant mortality in the operation room.