REVIEW   

Minerva Pediatrica 2018 October;70(5):458-66

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.18.05336-7

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Safe anesthesia for neonates, infants and children

Divya RAVIRAJ ¹ ✉, Thomas ENGELHARDT ¹, Tom GIEDSING HANSEN ^{2, 3}

¹ Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; ² Pediatric Section, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; ³ Clinical Institute of Anesthesiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

This review provides an overview of the perioperative safety concerns in pediatric anesthesia and exploration of strategies to minimize these risks through education and training in pediatric anesthesia. There is increasing human data on the effects of general anesthesia for surgery and procedures on later neurodevelopment. However, the magnitude and relevance of this remains unclear while the long-term outcomes from recent human studies are awaited. The current known and established risks associated with pediatric anesthesia can be minimized by establishing a robust and safe conduct of anesthesia. This not only includes maintenance of normal physiological variables but also other aspects such as reduction of preoperative fear and anxiety and postoperative care. This can be achieved through effective multidisciplinary team working, cross specialty training and further development of fellowships and secondments.

KEY WORDS: Pediatric emergency medicine - Neonatology - Pediatrics - Pulmonary ventilation - Medical education - General anesthesia