Incidence of severe critical events in paediatric anaesthesia (APRICOT): a prospective multicentre observational study in 261 hospitals in Europe

Error Traps in the Intrahospital Transport of Critically Ill and Anesthetized Children

Intrahospital transport of anesthetized and critically ill children is a routine event that carries myriad risks. Patients with a vast array of conditions are transported between the intensive care unit, procedural and diagnostic imaging suites, emergency department, and other areas. Given this complexity, the range of potential adverse events is large. Improving safety during transport will require a broad and holistic approach. This review will inform pediatric anesthesiologists on the best approach to improve their care and patient safety during transport by identifying common error traps, with both individual- and system-level countermeasures. The error traps include the failure to fully weigh all risks, costs, and benefits associated with transport for a procedure or test; secure appropriate resources for transport and at every destination; provide pertinent information during transfers of care; anticipate physical and physiological changes associated with transport; and execute the plan effectively as a team. Countermeasures include multidisciplinary discussion and resource optimization; use of systematic tools, standardized communication, and checklists to improve processes of care; encouraging the prioritization of a culture of safety around transport; and adapting the team composition and leadership style to suit the specific clinical scenario.

LncRNA MALAT1 serves as a risk factor in perioperative respiratory adverse events in children under general anesthesia

The perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAE) are ineluctable during pediatric anesthesia. Accurate assessment of preoperative anesthesia is significant to reduce surgical risks in general anesthesia. This study focused on the expression level and predictive performance of lncRNA MALAT1 in PRAE for general anesthesia children. 236 medical records from children patients were included and they were divided into the No-PRAE group (n = 129) and the PRAE group (n = 107). Blood samples obtained before general anesthesia were used to evaluate the relative levels of MALAT1 by qRT-PCR. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify underlying risk factors. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to estimate the diagnostic performance of MALAT1 in the occurrence of PRAE. The serum MALAT1 in the PRAE group was identified to be higher than that in the No-PRAE group. The regression analysis indicated that patients with preoperative airway disease (OR: 2.813; 95%CI: 1.327-5.961) or longer anesthesia duration (OR: 2.131; 95%CI: 1.111-4.088) or higher levels of MALAT1 (OR: 13.019; 95%CI: 6.769-25.039) faced a higher risk of PRAE. The area under the ROC curve was 0.885 while the sensitivity and specificity were 79.44% and 82.17%, respectively, identifying the referrible value of MALAT1 as a risk factor for predicting PRAE in general anesthesia children. In conclusion, the increased MALAT1 was a potential indicator of predicting PRAE in general anesthesia children.

Preoperative fasting in paediatric anaesthesia: a movie with a predicable ending

A large international prospective pragmatic study (EUROFAST), analysing more than 306 900 anaesthetic procedures across 31 centres, compared the incidence of pulmonary aspiration in children after three different clear fluid fasting regimens: traditional fasting (≥2 h before induction of anaesthesia), ≥1 h fasting before induction and sip-til-send. EUROFAST provided further evidence supporting the safety of liberal fasting times by demonstrating that the incidence of confirmed pulmonary aspiration with fasting durations of ≥1 h is not higher than that observed with a ≥2 h fasting period. EUROFAST provided additional evidence to support changes in practice for institutions that still adhere to the outdated 6-4-2 fasting regimen by adopting a more modern approach of ≥1 h fasting or sip-til-send.

Optimal Period for Surgery for Congenital Muscular Torticollis Following the Failure of Physiotherapy

Congenital muscular torticollis is the third most common cause of orthopedic deformity. It is a risk factor for plagiocephaly. Physiotherapy is the preferred treatment. However, if it fails, surgery is recommended. This study examined the surgical results of congenital muscular torticollis in association with age. A retrospective descriptive study of patients who underwent surgery (tenotomy of the sternocleidomastoid muscle) for congenital muscular torticollis at a single center between 2000 and 2022 was, accordingly, performed. Clinical results (excellent, good, or poor) were examined in the following 3 age groups: younger than 18 months, older than 4 years, and an intermediate age. Surgical results were evaluated for at least 12 months of follow-up. During the study period, 96 cases of congenital muscular torticollis were surgically treated, and 75 records met the inclusion criteria. Initial physiotherapy was administered to all patients for an average of 16.9 months. Excellent and good results were better in the below 18-month group (mean: 13.4 mo) without recurrence. The results were poor in 22.8% of intermediate-age patients and in 13.0% of those older than 4 years. Thus, surgery for congenital muscular torticollis, after the failure of physiotherapy, achieved an overall success rate of 85.6% (excellent or good). Bipolar tenotomy should, therefore, be performed if congenital muscular torticollis is resistant to physiotherapy. The optimal period is between 12 and 18 months of age. In cases of neglected torticollis, better results are obtained if surgery is postponed until after the child is 4 years old. Level of evidence: level III.

Apnoeic oxygenation during paediatric tracheal intubation: a study protocol for a single-centre, cluster randomised clinical trial (ApOx-Pedi-Trial)

INTRODUCTION

Adverse events during paediatric anaesthesia are common, with hypoxaemia during the induction period being a leading cause, as infants and children are particularly vulnerable to hypoxaemia during periods of apnoea. The administration of supplementary oxygen, referred to as apnoeic oxygenation, has been shown to prolong safe apnoea times and increase first-pass intubation success rates. Despite these benefits, apnoeic oxygenation is not routinely used in paediatric anaesthesia. Low-flow apnoeic oxygenation, delivered via a standard nasal cannula, is a simple approach to provide supplementary oxygen during paediatric airway management without requiring additional equipment. However, its efficacy in airway management during elective surgeries has not been adequately studied.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The ApOx-Pedi-Trial is a single-centre, cluster randomised, controlled clinical trial comparing the use of low-flow apnoeic oxygenation during the induction of general anaesthesia in infants and children up to 6 years of age undergoing elective surgery at the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital to standard of care (no apnoeic oxygenation). Randomisation is conducted using a weekly cluster randomisation method, where all patients presenting for surgery in a given week either receive apnoeic oxygenation or standard of care during the induction of general anaesthesia, based on the week's group allocation.The study population will consist of two independent, age-stratified cohorts (<24 months and >24 months to 6 years), each including 100 patients. Statistical analysis of study endpoints will be conducted separately for each cohort to allow for age-specific assessment of outcomes.The primary objective of this trial is to evaluate whether apnoeic oxygenation can prevent a decrease in transcutaneous haemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) during the induction of general anaesthesia in infants and children. The primary outcome measure will be the lowest recorded SpO₂ value throughout the apnoeic period.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The ApOx-Pedi-Trial received permission from the local ethics committee (Ethics Committee of the medical faculty at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany) under the registration number S-074-2024. The study is following institutional Guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975 in its most recent version. Trial results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The trial is prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the number NCT06576596.

Structural, material and functional organisation of centres performing paediatric anaesthesia

OBJECTIVE

The French Society of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation (SFAR)) and the French association of paediatric intensive care anaesthetists (Association des Anesthésistes Réanimateurs Pédiatriques d'Expression Française (ADARPEF)) have joined forces to provide guidelines for professional practice on the structural, material, and functional organisation of centres performing pediatric anesthesia.

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 16 experts from the SFAR and the ADARPEF was convened. The experts declared no conflict of interest before and throughout the process. The entire guidelines process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were asked to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide the assessment of the quality of evidence.

METHODS

Four fields were defined: (1) structure and logistics; (2) equipment and materials; (3) training; and (4) functional organisation. For each field, the objective of the recommendations was to answer a number of questions formulated according to the PICO model (population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes). Based on these questions, an extensive bibliographic search was carried out on works published from 2000 to 2022, using predefined keywords according to PRISMA guidelines and analyzed using the GRADE® methodology. Because of the very small number of studies that could provide the necessary power for the most important endpoint (i.e., morbidity), it was decided, before drafting the recommendations, to adopt a Recommendations for Professional Practice (RPP) format rather than a Formalised Recommendations of Experts (RFE) format. The recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE® methodology, before being voted on by all the experts according to the GRADE grid method.

RESULTS

The experts' synthesis work and the application of the GRADE® method resulted in 34 recommendations dealing with the structural, material and functional organization of centers performing pediatric anaesthesia. After three rounds of rating and several amendments, an agreement was reached on all the recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong agreement exists among the experts to provide recommendations aimed at improving the structural, material and functional organization of centers performing paediatric anaesthesia.

Educational Review and Cases of Delayed Gastric Emptying in Children With Short Bowel Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and intestinal failure (IF) often require repeated sedation and anesthesia throughout their lives. These patients may present for elective procedures well-appearing, with appropriate preoperative fasting and no clear signs of gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction. Despite appearing to be at normal risk for anesthesia-related aspiration, unique physiologic adaptations in this patient population are likely to increase the risk of gastrointestinal dysmotility and aspiration. Current guidelines do not specifically identify IF and SBS as conditions associated with high aspiration risk.

OBJECTIVES

To highlight the elevated risk of pulmonary aspiration in patients with SBS and IF and propose mitigation strategies for anesthesia providers.

METHODS

We present two illustrative cases of patients with SBS who nearly experienced pulmonary aspiration under anesthesia. Both cases involved patients who exceeded standard fasting guidelines, lacked signs and symtoms of GI obstruction, and demonstrated normal to high stool output.

RESULTS

These cases reveal that intestinal adaptation, chronic physiologic changes, and prior medical and surgical interventions can significantly impair gastric emptying and intestinal motility, thereby increasing aspiration risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Standard preoperative assessments may not adequately identify aspiration risk in patients with SBS and IF. Anesthesia providers should consider tailored strategies to mitigate aspiration risk in this unique patient population that include minimizing sedation or, when greater depth of anesthesia is required, avoiding natural airways and supglottic airway devices in favor of rapid sequence induction and endotracheal intubation.

Optimizing pediatric preoperative fasting management: a survey of practices and real durations in Chinese hospitals

BACKGROUND

Rational preoperative fasting can reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration, enhance anesthesia safety and efficiency, and mitigate the adverse effects of prolonged fasting. This study investigates the existing practices of preoperative fasting management in Chinese pediatric patients and explores the real duration of preoperative fasting.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire on fasting management in children was developed and an online survey was conducted among anesthesiologists. The survey mainly included the real implementation of pediatric fasting protocols, anesthesiologists' understanding of pediatric fasting management, and the application of gastric ultrasound. Moreover, data on pediatric preoperative fasting durations were collected from different hospitals across China.

RESULTS

A total of 770 questionnaires and 1285 records of preoperative fasting cases were obtained. The survey indicated variations in preoperative fasting protocols among hospitals. Most hospitals recommended fasting for clear fluids for 2 h, while the new 1-h regimen and the liberal regimen were less implemented due to concerns regarding regurgitation and aspiration risks. Fasting for breast milk, formula milk, and solid food was mainly based on traditional protocols, with fasting durations of 4 h, 6 h, and 8 h, respectively. Most anesthesiologists have experienced regurgitation and aspiration, but there were significant differences in their awareness of the prevention and prognosis of regurgitation and aspiration. Utilization of gastric ultrasound was limited, with a lack of equipment and familiarity among anesthesiologists. Real preoperative fasting durations for children were significantly longer than those recommended in the guidelines. Factors contributing to prolonged fasting were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a big gap between preoperative fasting practices and the guidelines, and the real fasting durations of children before surgery are significantly longer than the guideline recommendations. Anesthesiologists should strengthen their understanding of preoperative fasting management in pediatric patients, master the skills of gastric ultrasound assessment, and timely address inefficiencies in pediatric preoperative fasting management.

Perioperative Complications in Children with Down Syndrome: A Single Center Retrospective Analysis-Original Clinical Research Report

Background/Objectives: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in live births in the United States. Children with DS often require anesthesia for surgery or diagnostic imaging in their lives. These children present a unique perioperative risk profile due to a combination of anatomic and physiological alterations, along with associated comorbid conditions. There are limited studies on the perioperative outcomes of children with DS. This retrospective study assesses perioperative complications in pediatric patients with DS undergoing non-cardiac surgery or diagnostic imaging under anesthesia at a single tertiary pediatric hospital. Methods: The electronic medical record at a tertiary pediatric hospital was queried for children with DS who received anesthesia for non-cardiac surgery or diagnostic imaging from May 2016 to April 2021. The primary outcomes were complications defined as readmission, reoperation, or unexpected respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, surgical, or gastrointestinal issues. Exclusion criteria were cardiac surgery, age > 18 years, and records with incomplete or missing data. Results: A total of 1713 anesthetic records from 711 unique patients over five years were included in the final analysis. The study found a low overall complication rate (2.98%), with respiratory events being the most common (43.1%). While most complications are short term and resolved with treatment and time; there were also several severe, life-threatening complications. Increased procedural complexity, multiple procedures, and increased procedure duration were associated with higher complication rates, whereas patient age, sex, weight, and case urgency were not associated with higher complication rates. Conclusions: Children with DS often have comorbid conditions and require multiple life-improving surgeries. Our study found the perioperative complication rate for children with Down syndrome receiving anesthesia for non-cardiac surgery or diagnostic imaging is low, comparable to the general pediatric population. The findings indicate that anesthesia is well tolerated by children with DS. However, given patients' unique anatomic and physiological differences, careful perioperative risk assessment and planning is essential. Clinical Implications: (a) What is already known about the topic: Pediatric patients with DS often require anesthesia for surgical procedures or medical imaging. They have anatomic and physiological alterations and comorbid conditions that may influence perioperative risk. (b) What new information this study adds: In a retrospective study at a tertiary pediatric hospital, patients with DS were found to have a low overall complication rate after anesthesia for non-cardiac surgery or diagnostic imaging. Increased procedural complexity, multiple procedures, and increased procedure duration were associated with higher complication rates.

Fascial plane blocks in pediatric anesthesia: A narrative review

Regional anesthesia techniques have become a cornerstone of pain management in the adult population, providing adequate analgesia while minimizing systemic side effects. Despite the numerous benefits demonstrated in pediatric studies, the implementation of regional anesthesia in children remains insufficiently adopted in clinical settings. One primary concern preventing broader application is the potential for complications of these techniques in pediatric patients, which understandably raises apprehension among clinicians. However, the introduction of fascial plane blocks in the literature has led to a significant advancement in this field. These regional anesthesia techniques are increasingly being incorporated into routine clinical practice, as they are relatively easy to learn and apply and safe techniques. Fascial plane blocks provide adequate pain management while minimizing opioid consumption, which not only helps reduce the risk of opioid-related side effects but also contributes to a more comfortable perioperative and postoperative experience for young patients. These blocks can significantly enhance patient recovery and satisfaction by facilitating analgesia. This narrative review briefly summarizes different indications of fascial plane blocks and their effectiveness in managing pain among pediatric patients, illuminating critical points to consider when applying these techniques.

Laryngeal mask vs. laryngeal tube trial in paediatric patients (LaMaTuPe): a single-blinded, open-label, randomised-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In hypoxemic children with difficult airway, or for minor elective procedures, the use of a supraglottic airway device may be preferred to endotracheal intubation, whether with a laryngeal mask or laryngeal tube. Second-generation laryngeal masks may offer a better safety profile. Whether they should be preferred to laryngeal tubes is unknown. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of second-generation laryngeal masks and laryngeal tubes in children.

METHODS

This randomised-controlled trial was conducted in a single university hospital in children <18 years undergoing elective anaesthesia in urology, minor paediatric surgery and gynaecology. Patients were 1 : 1 randomised to the laryngeal mask or laryngeal tube group. Children were allocated a second-generation laryngeal tube or a second-generation laryngeal mask as the primary airway device. The primary endpoint was insertion time. Secondary endpoints included first-attempt success, overall success and complications, which included hypoxia (SpO 2  < 90%), laryngospasm, bronchospasm, aspiration and bleeding.

RESULTS

In total, 135 patients were randomised, with 61 allocated to the laryngeal tube and 74 to the laryngeal mask group, with a median age of 5.4 and 4.9 years, respectively. Median insertion time was significantly longer in the laryngeal tube group (37 vs. 31 s; difference of medians: 6.0 s; 95% confidence interval: 0.0-13.0). The laryngeal tube had a significantly lower first-attempt (41.0%) and overall success rate (45.9%) than the laryngeal mask (90.5% and 97.3%, respectively). Those allocated to the laryngeal tube group had a higher ratio of complications (27.8%) compared to the laryngeal mask group (2.7%).

CONCLUSION

This randomised-controlled trial reported that in children undergoing elective anaesthesia, the use of a laryngeal tube was associated with a longer insertion time.

Pediatric perioperative hypersensitivity in Denmark: A 20 year retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Perioperative hypersensitivity (POH) is rare but potentially life-threatening, and data on POH in children are sparse. This single-center study aimed to describe clinical presentations and allergy investigations in children with suspected POH in Denmark, and to evaluate a risk stratification algorithm used for suspected POH (elevated tryptase, 2 or more organ systems involved and urticaria/angioedema).

METHODS

Retrospective data from 70 children who had undergone allergy investigations at the specialized Danish Anaesthesia Allergy Centre were included. Children were divided into a test positive and test negative group based on results from allergy investigations, and the groups were compared. Sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the risk stratification algorithm for suspected POH and for different combinations of symptoms.

RESULTS

24% of the children tested positive. The most confirmed allergen was chlorhexidine (n = 3), followed by NMBAs (n = 2) and antibiotics (n = 2). Skin symptoms were most common (94%), and cardiovascular symptoms (CVS) appeared as the first symptom in 50% of the test positive children. CVS were more common in the test positive group. The risk stratification algorithm had a high sensitivity (88%) but a higher sensitivity (94%) was seen in the combination "elevated tryptase or CVS or urticaria/angioedema".

CONCLUSION

Several different allergens were confirmed in this study, including hidden allergens like chlorhexidine. This emphasizes the need to identify all potential allergens and the need for investigation at a specialized allergy center. More data are needed to make recommendations on the optimal risk stratification algorithm in children with suspected POH.

Involvement of anesthesiologists in pediatric sedation and analgesia outside the operating room in Japan: is it too late, or is there still time?

The global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted significant existing supply-demand imbalances in anesthesia workforce, particularly impacting non-operating room anesthesia. Despite documented risks and mortality rates associated with pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia (PPSA) outside the operating room (OR), there is a pressing need for improvements in safety infrastructure. Comparative analysis with international practices reveals that anesthesiologists' involvement is associated with fewer adverse events and improved outcomes. However, lower reimbursement rate for sedation and anesthesia workforce shortage, and decentralized health resources are contributing factors to limit their participation in PPSA outside the OR in Japan. Enhancing the involvement of anesthesiologists through the public health frameworks such as "high-risk approach" and "population approach" can contribute to improvement of the safety and quality of PPSA. By tackling these challenges and implementing effective solutions, anesthesiologists can play a key role in ensuring safer and more effective PPSA outside the OR. Future challenges include enhancing training, addressing reduced clinical exposure due to work style reform, and developing effective educational systems. Research on improved educational approaches and fundamental outcome indices is crucial for improving PPSA practices outside the OR.

Prophylactic pharmacological interventions against perioperative respiratory adverse events in children undergoing noncardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Perioperative respiratory adverse event (PRAE) is one of the most common complications in pediatric anesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative pharmacological interventions to prevent the development of PRAE in children undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) of prophylactic pharmacological interventions for PRAE among surgical children from inception to 5 August 2024. Pairwise meta-analyses were conducted to compare the effects of an intervention with placebo or another intervention on overall PRAE and their subtypes, including laryngospasm, bronchospasm, oxygen desaturation, airway obstruction, coughing and stridor. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

RESULTS

Seven categories of prophylactic interventions were identified. Twenty-nine RCTs with 4452 children were included. Compared with placebo, lidocaine reduced the odds ratio (OR) of overall PRAE ( 0.27 [95% CI] [0.17, 0.42]) and laryngospasm (0.38 [0.22, 0.67]); dexmedetomidine reduced the OR of PRAE (0.31 [0.12, 0.76]), laryngospasm (0.31 [0.10, 0.91]), coughing (0.24 [0.14, 0.41]) and oxygen desaturation (0.54 [0.35, 0.84]); β2-adrenoreceptor agonists reduced the OR of PRAE (0.45 [0.24, 0.83]), coughing (0.36 [0.13, 0.95]) and oxygen desaturation (0.66 [0.45, 0.98]). Compared with sevoflurane induction, intravenous propofol induction lowered the OR of PRAE (0.35 [0.16, 0.74]), laryngospasm (0.17 [0.06, 0.48]) and airway obstruction (0.32 [0.17, 0.63]).

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis demonstrated prophylactic potential of lidocaine, dexmedetomidine, β2-adrenoreceptor agonists and propofol induction technique against PRAE, but it should be interpreted cautiously due to inconsistent PRAE definition and correlation of subtypes within the composite outcome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42020220028). Registered 11 December 2020. Updated 3 September 2024.

Predictors of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events in Children Undergoing Surgery for Oropharyngeal Cleft Deformity: A Prospective Observational Study (PRAE-OPCD Study)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Children with oropharyngeal cleft deformity (OPCD) undergoing reconstructive surgery are at greater risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs). Predictors for PRAE specific to this population have not been investigated, despite it being the most common congenital malformation seen worldwide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center, prospective, observational study recruited 270 children under 2 years of age, undergoing elective cleft surgery from May 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The primary aim was to identify predictors of pre-determined PRAE (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, stridor, airway obstruction and desaturation). We also aimed to identify the more common PRAE in this patient population.

RESULTS

Of the 345 children who underwent cleft correction surgery, 270 were included in the study. There was a statistically increased incidence of PRAE in children with a positive history of upper airway obstruction and a history of feeding disorder in early infancy, Cormack Lehane (CL) grade ≥ 3, and COLDS score ≥ 15. A significant association was found between the COLDS score (odds ratio [OR]: 0.005, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.001-0.049), CL grade ≥ 3 (OR: 0.008, 95% CI: 0.001-0.078) and PRAE.COLDS score ≥ 15 (p = 0.046; adjusted OR [AOR]: 18.07, 95% CI: 1.06-308.45) and CL grade ≥ 3 (p = 0.007; AOR: 41.79, 95% CI: 2.74-636.40) were associated with PRAEs in the multivariate regression. The overall incidence of PRAE was 1.85%, laryngospasm being the most common.

CONCLUSION

Children with OPCD with higher COLDS scores and/or those with a CL grade view ≥ 3 are more likely to develop PRAE following corrective surgery. The limited data indicate the increased possibility of PRAE in children with a positive history of airway obstruction and/or feeding disorder in early infancy. The relatively low incidence of PRAE restricts the generalizability.

Racial Disparities in Pediatric Anesthesia: An Updated Review

Health care disparities affect care across all medical fields, including pediatric anesthesia. Recent studies have revealed differences in pediatric perioperative care especially in anesthetic and analgesic choices. Additionally, Black children face higher 30 day postoperative mortality and more serious adverse events compared to White children. While strategies to address these disparities have been proposed, significant work is still needed.

Barriers and enablers to recruiting participants within paediatric perioperative and anaesthetic settings: lessons learned from a trial of melatonin versus midazolam in the premedication of anxious children (the MAGIC trial)

Background

Poor recruitment is one key reason for premature closure of randomised controlled trials. The Melatonin for Anxiety prior to General Anaesthesia In Children (MAGIC) trial was a multicentre randomised controlled trial of melatonin vs midazolam in the premedication of anxious children, before surgery. The trial ran between 2019 and 2022, closing early because of recruitment futility. This paper describes the challenges that arose during the trial and offers recommendations for the design of future perioperative trials.

Methods

A case-based approach was used to identify barriers to recruitment. As part of a qualitative sub-study, semi-structured interviews with local site teams, participants, and caregivers also explored barriers and enablers to recruitment.

Results

Issues encountered included time sensitivity within pressured environments; feasibility of paediatric assent; research pharmacy availability; variation in anaesthetist equipoise; multifactorial decision-making issues in premedication selection; and the Associate Principal Investigator scheme being unable to support trials within anaesthetic trainee rotations. Future paediatric perioperative medicine trials could consider funding for research pharmacy outside of working hours; conducting risk assessments for study drugs to be held on theatre admission units; and a tailored design of site feasibility assessments to help address variation in practice. Challenges remain for the feasibility of including anaesthetic trainees within the Associate Principal Investigator scheme structure.

Conclusions

There are significant challenges to recruitment for paediatric clinical trials in anaesthesia and perioperative medicine. The MAGIC trial highlighted variations within anaesthetic practice at individual, local, and regional levels. Lessons learned from the MAGIC trial identifies specific barriers to paediatric trial enrolment, offer solutions and discusses ongoing challenges.

Clinical trial registration

ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN18296119.

Reviewing "Nil Per Os" Guidance for Clear Fluids in Children Before Anesthesia: Survey of the Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership Council

BACKGROUND

Several international pediatric anesthesia societies have endorsed a change in the traditional nil per os (NPO) cutoff of clear fluids (CF) from 2 hours to 1 hour. These recommendations were compiled from large-scale outcomes, gastric ultrasound, and quality improvement studies. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recently published their updated guidelines. Despite the lack of prospective randomized studies with conclusive outcomes, several major children's health systems in North America have already implemented or are modifying their institutional guidelines for CF. The objectives of this survey were to evaluate the current practices, changing trends, perceived benefits, and barriers in reducing the NPO times for CF in children presenting for anesthesia.

METHODS

After approval from the Penn State University Institutional Review Board, an electronic survey of the Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership Council (PALC, consortium of Pediatric Anesthesiology Chairs and Division Chiefs across the United States) members was conducted by the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Quality and Safety Committee (SPA-QS) NPO Clears Task Force between June 2023 and October 2023. Inclusion criteria were PALC membership and single response from each institution.

RESULTS

A total of 88 member institutions were represented by the PALC group. The final response rate was 75 of 88 (85.2%) from across 33 states. Eighty-eight percent of the respondents belonged to a tertiary pediatric center, and 94.7% belonged to an academic setting. At the time of the survey, 8 out of 75 (10.6%) responding institutions followed 1-hour CF cutoff, 7 (9.3%) were in the process of changing to 1-hour and 60 (80%) followed a 2-hour cutoff. 55(73%) respondents actively encouraged CF up to the time they had to be NPO. 46.7% of the respondents reported significant issues (hypoglycemia, dehydration, difficulty in establishing intravenous access, patient and parental dissatisfaction) with prolonged fasting in children. The survey responses included multiple comments in favor of changing guidelines to 1 hour for CF in healthy young children. The overarching concern for implementation of 1-hour cutoff for CF was the potential medicolegal ramification of a policy change in the absence of an official statement from national professional societies.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey demonstrates growing trends toward implementing the reduced NPO time for CF to 1 hour nationally. Based on the current ASA guidelines, the SPA-QS committee recommends close attention to NPO times and strongly encourages CF consumption up to the recommended cutoff time. It appears reasonable to follow a 1-hour cutoff for CF as deemed appropriate by the attending anesthesiologist or the institution.

A Survey of Sedation Practices for Adolescents and Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Undergoing Lumbar Puncture

PURPOSE

Lumbar puncture is a frequently performed procedure for patients undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This brief procedure is frequently performed with sedation in young patients but with only local anesthesia in adults. Adolescent and young adult patients may be cared for by physicians with different training backgrounds and sedation preferences, making the utilization of sedation for lumbar punctures variable among providers. The benefits of sedation for young adults with leukemia undergoing lumbar puncture (analgesia, anxiolysis, safety) must be weighed against the obligate fasting interval, hospital cost, and resource allocation that is required.

METHODS

We conducted a survey of pediatric and medical oncologists who care for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to assess their use of sedation for adolescents and young adults undergoing lumbar punctures as part of their cancer therapy. (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JPHO/A723 ).

RESULTS

Twenty-six percent of pediatric oncologists and 28% of medical oncologists completed the survey. Pediatric oncologists were more likely to perform lumbar punctures under sedation as compared with medical oncologists. This pattern remained consistent across all patient age ranges surveyed, despite no significant difference in the expected cumulative number of lumbar punctures that a patient was to undergo. Medical oncologists reported topicalization with local anesthetics before lumbar puncture more often than pediatric oncologists.

CONCLUSION

Sedation practices for lumbar puncture during acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment varies by specialty of treating oncologist.

Age-Specific Plasma Concentration, Efficacy and Safety of Ciprofol (Cipepofol) for Induction and Maintenance of General Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: A Single-Arm Prospective, Pragmatic Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Ciprofol (Cipepofol) currently has well-established clinical research data in adult Chinese patients, but there is a lack of reliable research data in pediatric patients. This study aimed to assess the age-specific plasma concentration, efficacy and safety profiles of cipepofol in pediatric patients aged 2-17 years during the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.

METHODS

This was a single-arm, open-label, prospective, pragmatic study conducted in the Hunan Children's Hospital from May 10, 2023 to August 25, 2023, that involved pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery after the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Cipepofol was administered as an intravenous bolus injection of 0.6 mg/kg (patients aged 2-11 years) or 0.5 mg/kg (12-17 years) for induction, followed by an initial maintenance infusion of 1.2 mg/kg/h or 1.4 mg/kg/h, respectively. The primary endpoint-plasma concentration of cipepofol was measured using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. The age-specific plasma concentration, efficacy and safety profiles of cipepofol are summarized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

All 38 enrolled patients completed the study, including 14 children aged 2-5 years, 12 children aged 6-11 years and 12 children aged 12-17 years. The trends of plasma concentration variations among patients in the three age groups were largely consistent. The success rates of anesthesia induction and maintenance for patients in the three groups were both 100%, and no patients required rescue medication. Children aged 2 to 5 years had the longest median durations of successful anesthetic induction (1.1 min) and eyelash reflection disappearance (1.2 min), while the median durations for patients aged 6-11 years and those aged 12-17 years (0.5 and 0.5 min) were similar. The median time to extubation and length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit tended to be the longest in children aged 6-11 years (23.5 and 30.0 min) but were comparable for those aged 2-5 years (10.5 min and 20.0 min) and 12-17 years (11.0 and 20.0 min). The median time to full alertness tended to decrease with increasing age (33.7 vs 25.8 vs 22.7 min). A total of 4 (10.5%) patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events in those aged 2-5 years or 12-17 years, with a severity of grade 1 or grade 2.

CONCLUSION

Cipepofol had good safety for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in pediatric patients aged over 2 years. The dosing regimen with an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 mg/kg for induction, followed by an initial maintenance infusion of 1.4 mg/kg/h was adequate for children aged 12-17 years; age-specific dose regimen for children aged 2-11 years should be improved by further large-scale prospective studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2400085640, July 14, 2024, retrospectively registered.

Clinical practice and outcomes in European pediatric cardiac anesthesia: A secondary analysis of the APRICOT and NECTARINE studies

BACKGROUND

Despite advancements in surgical techniques and perioperative care, pediatric cardiac patients remain at an increased risk of adverse events. The APRICOT (2017) study aimed to establish the incidence of severe critical events in children undergoing anesthesia in Europe, while the NECTARINE (2021) study aimed to assess anesthesia practices and outcomes in neonates and infants under 60 weeks postconceptual age. Our goal was to conduct a secondary analysis of the cardiac cohorts from these two studies to determine mortality rates and other outcomes after cardiac procedures at 30 and 90 days, identify factors influencing mortality, illustrate clinical practices, and assess the methodology of the two studies.

METHODS

Sub-analysis of the data from APRICOT and NECTARINE. Data representativity was assessed through a systematic categorization process. European countries were divided into four income groups based on their gross national income per capita. Subsequently, the total number of patients across all four income groups was calculated for both the Apricot and Nectarine studies, and then the specific contribution of each income group to the total population of each study was determined.

RESULTS

This analysis comprised 1016 cases (Apricot, n = 476 and Nectarine, n = 540). There was a considerable variability in clinical practice in Europe. The overall mortality rates were 0.84% (APRICOT) and 8.1% (NECTARINE). In both cohorts, substantial mortality was observed among low-age and low-weight infants. Stratifying the participating countries by income illustrated that the data originated from highest-income and upper-middle-income European countries and were not representative of low-income and middle-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS

In this secondary analysis of the APRICOT and NECTARINE studies, we found that fatal cases primarily occurred in low-age and low-weight neonates and infants.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

This secondary analysis of the APRICOT and NECTARINE studies focused on pediatric cardiac surgical cases. Outcomes differed according to weight and age of the children, where mortality risk was higher for very young and low-weight children.

Intraoperative Anesthesia-Related Critical Events in Low-Resource Hospitals During Short-Term Surgical Missions in Tanzania and Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Critical incidents and mortality related to anesthesia are more frequently observed in low- and middle-income countries in comparison to high-income countries. The difficulties linked to anesthesia in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania have limited documentation. The aim of this study was to comprehensively document anesthesia-related critical events that occurred during surgical missions organized by the nongovernmental organization 2 nd Chance in hospitals in DRC and Tanzania.

METHODS

Data were collected during 6 surgical missions in 3 hospitals in the DRC and 1 in Tanzania. All scheduled surgery patients were included. Anesthesia was administered by a local Non-Physician Anesthesia Provider (NPAP), using local resources, under the supervision of an anesthesiologist from the association. The anesthesiologist reported critical events and collected data. Local teams managed critical events initially, with intervention by the anesthesiologist from 2 nd Chance on the local team's request, according to preestablished protocol or if the situation was considered dangerous. Critical incidents associated with anesthesia, including bradycardia, hypoxemia, airway management failure, and equipment problems, were documented from induction of anesthesia until discharge from the recovery room.

RESULTS

We recruited 201 patients, of whom 192 were evaluated, with 9 patients dropping out due to protocol noncompliance. All patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I (62%; n = 120) or ASA II (38%; n = 72). Among them, 104 individuals (54%) experienced at least 1 critical event, totaling 202 critical events. Hypoxemia emerged as the most common event, affecting 29% of the patients (n = 55) with at least 1 episode. Equipment problems (oxygen supply and/or anesthesia machine failure) occurred in 24% of cases (n = 46), airway management issues in 23% (n = 44), and bradycardia in 6% (n = 12). Hypotension and hypertension were not documented due to the lack of monitoring. The majority of these events (over 60%) required intervention by the anesthesiologist.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of critical events related to anesthesia appears to be high in this study. Due to numerous limitations, these results cannot be generalized to all hospitals in Tanzania and the DRC. However, this study underscores the challenges faced by anesthesia teams, encompassing inadequate resources, equipment deficiencies, and varying levels of expertise among anesthesia personnel. The research further stresses the significance of addressing these challenges to enhance patient safety.

Ventilation strategies and risk factors for intraoperative respiratory critical events and postoperative pulmonary complications in neonates and small infants: a secondary analysis of the NECTARINE cohort☆

BACKGROUND

Optimal ventilation strategies and use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in neonates and small infants undergoing anaesthesia remain unclear. We examined the association of perioperative ventilation strategies and administration of NMBAs on respiratory adverse events in the NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) cohort.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of NECTARINE, which included infants up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures. The primary endpoint was the association between ventilation mode and intraoperative respiratory adverse events. Secondary endpoints were use of NMBA, and 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs).

RESULTS

The dataset comprised 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Pressure-controlled ventilation was the primary ventilation modality, accounting for 52.4% (n=3428) of cases. The incidence of intraoperative respiratory critical events was 20.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.7-21.7%), while PPCs were observed in 17% of cases (95% CI 16.0-18.1%). Preanaesthesia respiratory conditions and NMBA use after tracheal intubation were associated with higher incidence of PPCs. Of the children receiving NMBAs, reversal was reported in 29.8%. The absence of reversal was associated with a higher incidence of PPCs, with a relative risk of 1.50 (95% CI 1.17-1.93). Conversely, NMBA reversal was associated with a reduced relative risk of 0.43 (95% CI 0.26-0.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of ventilation strategy used, mechanical ventilation and baseline respiratory conditions were risk factors for a greater incidence of adverse respiratory events and PPCs. Reversal of NMBAs before tracheal extubation was significantly associated with reduced PPCs in neonates and should be routine clinical practice.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02350348).

Effect of use of cuffed endotracheal tubes on the occurrence of postoperative extubation-related respiratory adverse events in pediatric patients with airway hypersensitivity: a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Whether endotracheal tube (ETT) configuration (cuffed or uncuffed) influences the occurrence of respiratory adverse events (RAEs) in patients at risk remains largely unknown. We investigated the effects of cuffed ETTs on RAE occurrence after extubation in pediatric patients with airway hypersensitivity.

METHODS

Children aged < 8 years with increased airway hypersensitivity (defined as upper airway symptoms, recent upper respiratory infection within 2 weeks, or a history of asthma) who underwent general endotracheal anesthesia with inhaled agents between January 2021 and December 2022 were included. We retrospectively examined the patients' background and intraoperative anesthesia conditions by comparing the cuffed and uncuffed ETT groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between ETT configuration (cuffed vs. uncuffed) and the occurrence of RAEs or respiratory interventions (laryngospasm, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation < 92%, oxygen supplementation, epinephrine inhalation, or reintubation) after extubation.

RESULTS

Cuffed ETTs were used in 163 patients and uncuffed ETTs in 143 patients. Apart from the frequency of upper airway surgery and intraoperative fluid balance, no significant differences in background characteristics were observed between the groups. RAEs after extubation were observed in 36 (22.1%) and 28 (19.6%) patients in each cuffed and uncuffed ETT groups. After adjusting for known RAE risk factors, no difference was observed in RAEs or respiratory interventions after extubation between both groups (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.64, 2.06).

CONCLUSION

In pediatric patients with airway hypersensitivity, the use of cuffed ETTs did not increase the occurrence of RAEs or respiratory interventions after extubation.

Preoperative Anxiety Management Practices in Pediatric Anesthesia: Comparative Analysis of an Online Survey Presented to Experts and Social Media Users

Background

Managing preoperative anxiety in pediatric anesthesia is challenging, as it impacts patient cooperation and postoperative outcomes. Both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are used to reduce children's anxiety levels. However, the optimal approach remains debated, with evidence-based guidelines still lacking. Health care professionals using social media as a source of medical expertise may offer insights into their management approaches.

Objective

A public survey targeting health care professionals was disseminated via social media platforms to evaluate current practices in anxiety management in children. The same questions were posed during an annual meeting of pediatric anesthesiologists with their responses serving as reference. The primary objective was to compare pediatric anesthesia expertise between the groups, while secondary objectives focused on identifying similarities and differences in preoperative anxiety management strategies hypothesizing expertise differences between the groups.

Methods

Two surveys were conducted. The first survey targeted 100 attendees of the German Scientific Working Group on Pediatric Anesthesia in June 2023 forming the "Expert Group" (EG). The second open survey was disseminated on social media using a snowball sampling approach, targeting followers of a pediatric anesthesia platform to form the "Social Media Group" (SG). The answers to the 24 questions were compared and statistically analyzed. Questions were grouped into 5 categories (pediatric anesthesia expertise, representativity, structural conditions, practices of pharmacological management, and practices in nonpharmacological management).

Results

A total of 194 responses were analyzed (82 in EG and 112 in SG). The EG cohort exhibited significantly greater professional experience in pediatric anesthesia than the SG cohort (median 19 vs 10 y, P<.001), higher specialist status (97.6% vs 64.6%, P<.001), and a greater pediatric anesthesia volume (43.9% vs 12% with more than 500 cases per year, P<.001). Regarding the representativity, 2 items out of 4 were statistically significant (level of care of institution, annual caseload of institution). Regarding the overall anxiety management practices used, there is a heterogeneous response pattern within both groups.

Conclusions

Despite heterogeneous approaches, health care professionals using social media demonstrated less expertise in pediatric anesthesia but showed minimal differences in the daily management of preoperative anxiety compared with pediatric anesthesia experts. Our study highlights the potential for meaningful use of social media but future studies should explore the impact of social media health care professionals' knowledge in other specific topics. Additionally, regarding preoperative anxiety, further recommendations are needed that could help to standardize and improve anxiety levels in children.

The effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) application on airway problems in pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis who undergo balloon dilatation

BACKGROUND

Subglottic stenosis is a significant clinical challenge in pediatric anesthesia, often necessitating interventions that can lead to various postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prophylactic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) application on recovery time and airway complications in pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis undergoing balloon dilatation.

METHODS

A prospective, double-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled study was conducted at Health Sciences University Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital on pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis, aged from 0 to 12 years and who underwent elective balloon dilatation under general anesthesia. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the CPAP or non-CPAP group. The primary outcome was the duration of recovery time. Secondary outcomes included bronchospasm, the number of desaturation episodes, intubation, tracheostomy, and the need for intensive care.

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial, 81 of which received the allocated treatment and were analyzed (non-CPAP n = 41, CPAP n = 40). Compared to controls, the proportions of bronchospasm, tracheal secretion, need for intensive care, and tracheostomy were consistently lower in the CPAP group, whereas the requirement of intubation was higher. Further, the mean recovery time was significantly shorter in the CPAP group compared to the non-CPAP group (mean difference - 3.3 min, 95%CI - 5.16 to - 1.44, p = 0.0007). Despite lacking statistical significance, the CPAP group had reduced odds of developing bronchospasm, tracheal secretion, need for intensive care, and tracheostomy, but higher odds of requiring intubation when compared to the controls.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic CPAP application following therapeutic balloon dilatation in pediatric patients who have developed subglottic stenosis due to acquired or congenital causes appears to effectively shorten recovery time and may have a role in decreasing postoperative pulmonary complications; however, more research is recommended to further confirm these findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol for this clinical trial was retrospectively registered on clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT06183515 on 30 November 2023.

Lidocaine vs. Mometasone Furoate Around the Pediatric Tracheal Tube Cuff: Hemodynamic Stress Response and Postoperative Airway Complications: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Introduction: According to the results of the APRICOT study, airway and respiratory complications constitute 60% of all anesthesia-related complications and may be life-threatening. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lidocaine and mometasone spray on the hemodynamic stress response during tracheal intubation and extubation in children. Our secondary aim was to determine its effect on the incidence of postoperative airway complications. Materials and Methods: Following Ethics Committee approval (No: KIIA 2018/489) and clinical trial registration (No: NCT04085744), patient recruitment was initiated only after obtaining parental consent. Children of ASA I-II aged 0 to 16 years and undergoing elective surgery were included. A total of 91 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group M: Patients treated with a topical corticosteroid 0.05% mometasone furoate spray (n = 30). Group L: Patients sprayed with 10% lidocaine (n = 30). Control group: Patients treated with 0.9% normal saline applied around the cuff (n = 31). The systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures, heart rate, and SpO2 values were recorded before operation, after induction, before and after tracheal intubation, and before and after extubation. Patients were followed up for 24 h postoperatively. Results: A statistically significant decrease was found in the lidocaine group for diastolic and mean arterial pressures measured after tracheal intubation (p = 0.018 and p = 0.027, respectively). There was a significant decrease in heart rate values in Group L after extubation (p = 0.024). Cough was observed in 5 patients in the control group at the postoperative 12th hour, but not in the other groups (p = 0.009). The distribution of sore throat severity, dyspnea, and hoarseness and the incidence of early postoperative bronchospasm, recorded in all follow-up periods, decreased; however, it did not show a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study revealed that the topical application of lidocaine and mometasone around the tracheal tube cuff in children not only reduces postoperative cough but also, in the case of lidocaine, suppresses the hemodynamic stress response during both tracheal intubation and extubation.

Multidisciplinary, multicenter consensus for the care of patients affected with Sturge-Weber syndrome

BACKGROUND

Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a rare, sporadic neurocutaneous disorder affecting the skin, brain, and eyes, due to somatic activating mutations in GNAQ or, less commonly, GNA11 gene. It is characterized by at least two of the following features: a facial capillary malformation, leptomeningeal vascular malformation, and ocular involvement. The spectrum of clinical manifestations includes headache, seizures, stroke-like events, intellectual disability, glaucoma, facial asymmetry, gingival hyperplasia, etc. An early diagnosis is crucial to guarantee an appropriate care, which is best performed in reference centres by multidisciplinary teams. The aim of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary expert consensus for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of all disease manifestations, according to the recommendations of the Italian Law on Rare Disease Care.

RESULTS

Through a Delphi consensus methodology, 28 recommendations have been developed concerning (i) dermatological SWS manifestations and related treatment timing and modalities, (ii) neurological referral, diagnosis, pharmacological treatment of neurological signs and symptoms, neurosurgical indications, neurocognitive evaluation and related treatment, psychosocial support and patient follow-up, (iii) diagnosis of ophthalmological manifestations, medical and surgical treatment, and follow-up, (iv) maxillofacial surgical treatment, (v) oral cavity assessment, care and follow-up, and (vi) primary care paediatrician/general practitioner involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The present consensus developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts from Italian reference centres comprises practical recommendations for SWS global management, including currently controversial issues. Specific statements for all disease aspects, from skin manifestations and neurological and ocular signs and symptoms to oral and maxillofacial care, are provided. They can be exploited to uniform clinical practice in reference centres, but also in other hospitals and outpatient settings. Though this consensus has been developed taking primarily into account the Italian National Health System organization and rules on rare disorders, it could be translated also to other countries.

Heidelberg Adult and Pediatric Airway Registry (HAPA-Registry)

BACKGROUND

Advanced airway management is of fundamental importance in almost all areas of anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and critical care. Securing the airway is of the utmost importance, as this is a prerequisite for the oxygenation of the human organism. The clinical relevance of airway management is particularly evident in the fact that the primary cause of significant anesthesia-related complications can be attributed to this field. The need for the systematic recording of these procedures and their complications, as well as structured training in airway management and the evaluation of outcome parameters, is, therefore, evident.

METHODS

The HAPA-registry is a prospective and monocentric observational trial at the Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, Germany. All patients requiring general anesthesia with consecutive advanced airway management during a surgical procedure were included. We, therefore, planned to include approximately 9000 patients in the first period. Following successful airway management, the anesthetist completed a case report form (CRF) in person. The intention was to record airway management cases on an annual basis for a period of several months, thus ensuring that the register remains up-to-date and that airway management procedures are continuously recorded.

DISCUSSION

The aim of this study was to establish an airway registry that enables the systematic recording and evaluation of different methods of airway management. The registry can be used to monitor and evaluate the implementation of current guidelines and recommendations for action, as well as the rates of success and complications.

Differences in anaesthesiologist-surgeon seniority and patient safety: a single-centre mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Junior anaesthesiologists often find it difficult to gain the trust of surgeons, possibly because of their limited experience and unfamiliarity with surgeons. Therefore, they can face pressure when navigating disagreements with senior surgeons. We investigated whether and how differences in anaesthesiologist-surgeon seniority might impact patient safety.

METHODS

This was a sequential explanatory, mixed-methods evaluation conducted at a general hospital, comprising a retrospective case-control study followed by semi-structured interviews. In the quantitative phase, the case group included surgical patients who experienced anaesthesia-related adverse events. The control group was randomly selected from surgical patients without adverse events, matched to the case group by surgeon, surgery, and surgery year. The exposure was the differences in work experience between anaesthesiologists and surgeons. For the qualitative phase, participants were recruited from attending anaesthesiologists using a theoretical sampling strategy, and a grounded theory analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The quantitative study included 390 patients in the case group and 1560 patients in the control group. After controlling for confounders, we did not find a significant association between differences in anaesthesiologist-surgeon seniority and odds of anaesthesia-related adverse events (adjusted odds ratio 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.01, P=0.634). In cases of disagreements among surgeons, anaesthesiologists primarily based clinical decisions on the potential impact on patient safety. Junior anaesthesiologists faced challenges when rejecting surgeons. Nevertheless, they received robust support from anaesthesiology colleagues.

CONCLUSIONS

The capacity of anaesthesiologists to uphold patient safety was not significantly affected by their seniority levels relative to surgeons.

Preoperative Challenges for Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery

The demand for ambulatory anesthesia in pediatric surgery has been increasing, reflecting a significant shift over recent decades toward performing a growing number of procedures in an outpatient setting.1 The growing shortage of pediatric anesthesiologists, coupled with an increase in pediatric ambulatory surgery volumes, will require general anesthesiologists to deliver anesthesia care to children. Children with prematurity, hypotonia, upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), obesity, and congenital heart disease (CHD) are frequently encountered in the ambulatory setting and present significant challenges for ambulatory anesthesiologists. In addition, the management of preoperative fasting, pregnancy testing, and perioperative anxiety further complicates the care of a pediatric patient. This review will examine the existing evidence and provide guidance for ambulatory anesthesiologists on preoperative considerations for pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgical procedures.

Postoperative respiratory complications in children: from prediction to clinical action

The score for prediction of postoperative respiratory complications in infants and children (SPORC-C) was recently reported. The score was developed using a large cohort of patients by applying a multivariate model, then internally and externally validated on a different cohort of patients. In order to encourage use of this score, an online calculator (https://sites.google.com/view/sporc-for-children/home) was also developed, allowing identification of patients at low and high risk for postoperative respiratory complications. We review current evidence on algorithms developed to predict postoperative respiratory complications, including how and when such scoring systems should be used in daily practice to improve the overall safety of paediatric patients.

Awake fiberoptic intubation in a pediatric patient with Tessier's cleft: Navigating the challenges

Awake fibreoptic intubation is the gold standard of airway management in anticipated difficult airways. Paediatric patients with orofacial defects pose unique challenges to the anaesthetist as management requires meticulous planning and preparation as well as titration of drugs to maintain spontaneous ventilation without losing the airway. We report a case of an 11-year-old patient with Tessier cleft type 4,6 posted for orbital reconstruction and discuss the management with awake fibreoptic intubation.

Ambulatory pediatric adenotonsillectomy

PURPOSE

This Continuing Professional Development module aims to help the general anesthesiologist recognize common pitfalls in ambulatory pediatric adenotonsillectomy and perform appropriate risk stratification, analgesic management, and disposition planning.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Pediatric adenotonsillectomy is a widely performed procedure. An updated approach to preoperative risk assessment of commonly associated comorbidities allows the practitioner to anticipate and plan for adverse events. Risks include obstructive sleep apnea, airway hyperresponsiveness, asthma, recent upper respiratory tract infections, obesity, and young age. Risk-modifying interventions consist of delaying surgery, preoperative bronchodilator therapy, recognizing the limitations of volatile agents, and referral of high-risk patients to specialized pediatric centres. Appropriate selection of intraoperative and postoperative analgesia can optimize patient comfort, avoid readmission, and limit adverse events such as postoperative hemorrhage or respiratory depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Ambulatory pediatric adenotonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure, performed both in the community as well as tertiary care pediatric centres. To optimize outcomes in this heterogenous patient population, anesthesiologists must risk stratify and anticipate perioperative respiratory adverse events.

Brain health: A concern for anaesthesiologists and intensivists

Damage to the brain can have disastrous and long-lasting consequences. The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is aware of the importance of taking good care of the brain, both of patients and of anaesthesia and intensive care unit (ICU) caregivers, and has organised a complete learning track on brain health to bring this concern to the attention of practitioners. This learning track included an online Focus Meeting on Brain Health (November 25, 2023). We here provide readers with a digest of the information that was delivered during that meeting in an opinion paper driven by the authors' own reading of the literature. It is divided according to the meeting's sessions, including how to improve the health of an injured brain, how to keep a young or old brain healthy, how to keep a healthy adult brain unimpaired, how monitoring can impact brain health in the operating room and in the intensive care unit, and how to keep the anaesthesia and ICU caregivers' brain healthy. Each part is a brief and focused summary. The main delivered messages are that the management of injured brain patients involves an adequate choice of sedation, adequate brain monitoring, and focused attention to specific points depending on the underlying pathology; that several measures can be undertaken to protect the brain of the very young needing anaesthesia; that it is possible to detect older patients at risk of postoperative neurocognitive disorders, and that dedicated perioperative management by a multidisciplinary expert team may improve their outcomes; that apparently healthy adult brains may suffer during anaesthesia; that the electroencephalogram may track peri-operative brain dysfunction, and that female patients should be given special care in this respect; that multimodal brain monitoring helps to detect pathological processes and to maintain brain homeostasis; and that burnout in anaesthesiologists can be effectively fought using personal, organisational, managerial and legal approaches.

Remimazolam anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Benzodiazepines are used in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) because of their mild hemodynamic depressant effects. A novel short-acting benzodiazepine, remimazolam, is expected to be suitable for these patients. We examined the characteristics of remimazolam anesthesia in pediatric patients with CHD undergoing cardiac catheterization.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for CHD. The primary outcome was the remimazolam dose for loss of consciousness. Secondary outcomes included the mean maintenance remimazolam dose, recovery time from anesthesia, predicted remimazolam concentration at emergence, decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, vasopressor administration during anesthesia, electroencephalogram index (bispectral index: BIS or patient state index: PSI), and life-threatening adverse events.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients, aged 2 months to 16 years, were included. Thirty-three patients received a median [interquartile] midazolam dose of 0.10 [0.10-0.10] mg.kg-1 in the pre-anesthesia room. The remimazolam dose for loss of consciousness was 0.34 [0.26-0.45] mg.kg-1. The mean maintenance dose was 1.0 [0.8-1.4] mg.kg-1.h-1. The recovery time was 15 [12-17] min. The predicted remimazolam concentration at emergence was 0.4-1.2 µg.ml-1 in 3-6-year-old patients. Blood pressure and heart rate decreased by 30% in 15 and 6 patients, respectively. Vasopressors were administered as a bolus in 8 patients. The BIS or PSI did not fall ≤ 60 or ≤ 50, respectively, in 51% of patients before tracheal intubation. No life-threatening adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Remimazolam is a good alternative anesthetic agent for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for CHD.

Urgent surgical exploration for neonatal torsion under spinal anesthesia

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

The repeated or lengthy use of general anesthesia (GA) in children under three years old is cautioned against due to potential neurodevelopment effects. Spinal anesthesia (SA) has emerged as a safe and effective alternative for routine pediatric urologic procedures. In this study, we describe the use of SA in the urgent surgical treatment of neonatal testicular torsion.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SA for urgent scrotal exploration in neonates.

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively collected data on neonates younger than 30 days old undergoing SA for the indication of testicular torsion from May 2018 to June 2022. We recorded patient demographics, adjuvant medications use, and time points for start/stop of spinal injection, procedure, and operating room utilization.

RESULTS

Six neonates, with an average age of 1.9 days of life and average weight of 3.4 kg, underwent scrotal exploration for testicular torsion using SA. Four patients (67%) required orchiectomy of the nonviable torsed testicle, and all patients underwent orchiopexy of the unaffected testicle. Mean total operative time was 45.3 (SD 11.7) minutes, including Gomco circumcision in five patients. One patient received preoperative intranasal dexmedetomidine for sedation. Mean time for SA administration was 6.3 (SD 5.5) minutes, with a mean total time in the operating room of 77.3 (SD 9.8) minutes. There were no perioperative or postoperative complications.

DISCUSSION

We describe a single institution experience of surgical management of neonatal torsion under SA. In this case series, SA was safely utilized for all neonates involved without the need for conversion to GA or intravenous (IV) sedation.

CONCLUSION

The use of SA is safe and efficacious for urgent scrotal exploration for testicular torsion in neonates, even those under 48 h of age. More widespread utilization requires collaboration between pediatric urologists and experienced pediatric anesthesiologists trained in SA.

Preoperative preparation of children with upper respiratory tract infection: a focussed narrative review

This review summarises the current evidence for the perioperative preparation in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), including COVID-19 infection. URTI, including COVID-19 infection, are common and frequent in children who present for elective surgery. Children with URTI are at increased risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. Perioperative respiratory adverse events are among the most serious and impactful consequences of paediatric anaesthesia, including cardiorespiratory arrest, and therefore present a significant challenge for the paediatric anaesthetist. This review addresses the pathophysiology and time course of URTI, including COVID-19. The evidence-based patient, anaesthetic, and surgical risk factors for perioperative respiratory adverse events are summarised. These risk factors work synergistically to determine individual patient risk and allow for risk stratification both clinically and with validated scoring systems. Evidence-based optimisation of modifiable respiratory risk factors can reduce the risk of perioperative bronchospasm. The evidence for the anaesthesia management options, including the timing and setting of surgery, experience of the paediatric anaesthetist, premedication, choice of airway device, choice of agent for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, and deep vs awake tracheal extubation techniques along with a risk stratification framework are discussed.

Impact of Propofol Administered before Extubation on Respiratory Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims/Background Perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) are common in pediatric anesthesia, especially in otolaryngology procedures. In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the impact of administering propofol before extubation on PRAEs in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods We enrolled children aged 3 to 8 years old, of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classes I to III, scheduled for tonsillectomy, and randomly divided them into propofol and control groups. The subjects in the propofol group received multiple small doses of propofol (0.5 mg/kg per dose, total 1-2 mg/kg) until the patient resumed regular spontaneous breathing and exhibited no bodily movements. The subjects in the control group received 0.15 mL/kg of saline. The primary outcome was the rate of PRAEs, such as laryngospasm, bronchospasm, breath-holding spell, severe coughing, desaturation, and airway obstruction, post-extubation. The secondary outcomes were the extubation time, pre-extubation Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration at extubation, incidence of postoperative agitation, time to consciousness, and Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) pain score in the recovery room. Results were reported with risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), as well as the p-values indicating statistical significance. Results A total of 239 patients were included, including 119 in the propofol group and 120 in the control group. Our findings indicated no significant difference in the rate of PRAEs between the two groups (5.9% vs 10.8%, RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.23 to 1.31, p = 0.17). However, the propofol group showed a notable decrease in moderate to severe coughs (13.4% vs 60.0%, RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.36, p < 0.001) and postoperative agitation (4.2% vs 60.8%, RR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.17, p < 0.001). Conclusion This trial demonstrated that while administering repeated small doses of propofol before extubation does not significantly reduce respiratory adverse events in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, it does significantly reduce the incidence of severe coughing, improving postoperative recovery and clinical outcomes. Moreover, propofol helps reduce postoperative agitation, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of postoperative care, and maintaining its valuable clinical role in postoperative management. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05769842).

New methods needed to investigate the potential adverse effects of anaesthesia on neurological development in childhood

The issue of potentially harmful effects of neurotoxicity or anaesthesia management on children undergoing general anaesthesia is still not resolved. Studies have so far been limited by methodological problems. In a retrospective cohort study, a new noninvasive method was used to demonstrate visual processing changes in children with a single previous exposure to anaesthesia. We need new noninvasive methods that can be used before and after exposure to anaesthesia and surgery to detemine possible effects on long-term neurodevelopment.

Perspectives on Anesthesia and Perioperative Patient Safety: Past, Present, and Future

During the past 70 years, patient safety science has evolved through four organizational frameworks known as Safety-0, Safety -1, Safety-2, and Safety-3. Their evolution reflects the realization over time that blaming people, chasing errors, fixing one-offs, and regulation would not create the desired patient safety. In Safety-0, the oldest framework, harm events arise from clinician failure; event prevention relies on better staffing, education, and basic standards. In Safety-1, used by hospitals, harm events arise from individual and/or system failures. Safety is improved through analytics, workplace culture, high reliability principles, technology, and quality improvement. Safety-2 emphasizes clinicians' adaptability to prevent harm events in an everchanging environment, using resilience engineering principles. Safety-3, used by aviation, adds system design and control elements to Safety-1 and Safety-2, deploying human factors, design-thinking, and operational control or feedback to prevent and respond to harm events. Safety-3 represents a potential way for anesthesia and perioperative care to become safer.

[Intraoperative hypotension in children-Measurement and treatment]

Intraoperative hypotension is a common perioperative complication in pediatric anesthesia. Oscillometric blood pressure measurement is therefore an essential part of standard perioperative monitoring in pediatric anesthesia. The optimum measurement site is the upper arm. Attention must be paid to the correct cuff size. Blood pressure should be measured before induction. In children undergoing major surgery or in critically ill children, invasive blood pressure measurement is still the gold standard. Continuous noninvasive measurement methods could be an alternative in the future.Threshold values to define hypotension remain unknown, even in awake children. There are also little data on hypotension thresholds in the perioperative setting. The most reliable measurement parameter for estimating hypotension is the mean arterial pressure. The threshold values for intraoperative hypotension are 40 mm Hg in newborns, 45 mm Hg in infants, 50 mm Hg in young children and 65 mm Hg in adolescents. Treatment should be initiated at a deviation of 10% and intensified at a deviation of 20%.Bolus administration of isotonic balanced crystalloid solutions, vasopressors and/or catecholamines are used as treatment options. Consistent and rapid intervention in the event of hypotension appears to be crucial. So far there is no evidence as to whether this leads to an improvement in outcome parameters.

Lung ultrasound assessment of atelectasis following different anesthesia induction techniques in pediatric patients: a propensity score-matched, observational study

INTRODUCTION

Atelectasis is a well-documented complication in pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia. Its incidence varies significantly based on surgical procedures and anesthesia techniques. Inhalation induction, commonly used to avoid the discomfort of venipuncture, is suspected to cause higher rates of respiratory complications, including atelectasis, compared to intravenous induction. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of inhalation versus intravenous anesthesia induction on atelectasis formation in pediatric patients, as assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS).

METHODS

This propensity score-matched observational study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Milan, Italy. Inclusion criteria were children ≤ 18 years undergoing elective surgery with general anesthesia. Patients were divided into inhalation and intravenous induction groups. LUS was performed before and after anesthesia induction to assess lung aeration. The primary endpoint was the global LUS score post-induction, with secondary endpoints including the incidence and distribution of atelectasis.

RESULTS

Of the 326 patients included, 65% underwent inhalation induction and 35% intravenous induction. The global LUS score was significantly higher in the inhalation group (12.0 vs. 4.0, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching (for age, presence of upper respiratory tract infection, duration of induction, and PEEP levels at induction), average treatment effect (ATE) of mask induction was 5.89 (95% CI, 3.21-8.58; p < 0.001) point on LUS global score and a coefficient of 0.35 (OR 1.41) for atelectasis.

DISCUSSION

Inhalation induction is associated with a higher incidence of atelectasis in pediatric patients also when we adjusted for clinically relevant covariates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06069414.

The efficacy of magnesium sulphate in preventing laryngospasm in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials

BACKGROUND

Laryngospasm is sustained closure of the airways and can be a life-threatening condition. Magnesium sulphate is postulated to reduce the incidence of laryngospasm if administered peri-operatively. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of magnesium sulphate in preventing peri-operative laryngospasm in paediatric patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Four databases and a trial registry were searched. Inclusion criteria were paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia. Exclusion criteria were patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. The intervention of interest was the peri-operative administration of magnesium sulphate. The intervention was compared to either a placebo or other pharmacological agent. The primary outcome was the incidence of laryngospasm. A meta-analysis of all studies was performed. Sub-group analysis was subsequently performed.

RESULTS

A total of 953 patients from 13 trials were included in this study. Nine RCTs administered magnesium intravenously and 4 RCTs administered magnesium locally. Laryngospasm rates were 6% lower in the magnesium group (OR 0.48 [95% CI 0.25-0.96], p = 0.04) compared to control in the pooled data. Subgroup analysis showed laryngospasm rates were lower by 12.5% (Odds Ratio 0.26 [CI 0.09-0.76], p = 0.01) in the local magnesium group. Subgroup analysis of studies that only administered intravenous magnesium did not show a statistically significant difference in the incidence of laryngospasm (OR 0.73 [95% CI 0.33-1.63], p = 0.44).

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows a potential role for magnesium in the prevention of laryngospasm in paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia. There is a correlation between local administration of magnesium and reduction in laryngospasm rates. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy of intravenous magnesium in prevention of laryngospasm.

REGISTRATION

Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO); PROSPERO ID CRD42022307868 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022307868).

Distribution and outcomes of paediatric anaesthesia services in Sweden: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

Centralisation of perioperative care for small children to a limited number of specialised paediatric centres has many theoretical advantages, but neither the optimal balance nor the current distribution of paediatric anaesthesia on a national scale are well elucidated. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, adverse events, and mortality in children undergoing anaesthesia in Sweden.

METHODS

In this cohort study, data from all paediatric anaesthesia procedures registered in Sweden during the years 2019-22 were extracted from the Swedish Perioperative Register (SPOR). Data were analysed according to hospital level of care and ASA physical status.

RESULTS

Data from 81 hospitals were analysed. During the 4-yr period, 214,964 procedures were registered. Most procedures in neonates and infants were managed in paediatric (73%) and other university hospitals (21%). Adverse events occurred in 2.71% of cases and severe adverse events in 0.067%. The all-cause 24-h mortality rate was 6.6:10,000 anaesthetics and the all-cause 30-day mortality was 14.7:10,000 anaesthetics. The 30-day all-cause estimated mortality was highest in paediatric hospitals (95% confidence interval [CI] 30-39) compared with other university hospitals (95% CI 6.1-12), county (95% CI 1.9-4.8), district (95% CI 0.07-2.2), and smaller hospitals (95% CI 0.0-22).

CONCLUSIONS

Most procedures in neonates and infants were performed in tertiary centres, with county hospitals managing mainly older children, in accordance with national recommendations. Mortality was more common in tertiary centres, reflecting increased comorbidity and centralisation of anaesthesia of neonates and infants.

General Anesthesia Exposure in Infancy and Childhood: A 10-year Bibliometric Analysis

PURPOSE

Heated discussions have divided health care providers and policymakers on the risks versus benefits of general anesthesia in pediatric populations. We conducted this study to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of general anesthesia in this specific population over the past decade.

DESIGN

We summarized and quantitatively analyzed the studies related to general anesthesia in children and infants over the past decade.

METHODS

Using the Web of Science Core Collection as the data source, we analyzed the literature using CiteSpace software, focusing on authors, countries, institutions, keywords, and references to identify hotspots and predict research trends.

FINDINGS

A total of 2,364 publications on pediatric anesthesia were included in the analysis. The number of related publications and citations steadily increased from 2013 to 2022. The United States was the leading country in terms of output, and University of Toronto was the primary contributing institution. Co-citation analysis revealed that over the past decade research has mainly focused on the long-term adverse effects of general anesthesia on neurodevelopment and acute perioperative crisis events. Keyword analysis identified infant sedation and drug selection and compatibility as promising areas for development. In addition, improving the quality of perioperative anesthesia will be a major research focus in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent research in pediatric anesthesia has focused on mitigating the adverse effects of general anesthesia in infants and young children and studying the pharmacological compatibility of anesthetics. Our study results would assist researchers and clinicians in understanding the current research status and optimizing clinical practice in this field.

Preoperative survey to evaluate the patients' allergy list and its relevance to perioperative care

INTRODUCTION

Perioperative hypersensitivity and allergic reactions can result in significant morbidity and mortality. For routine anesthetic care, allergies are determined from a review of the electronic medical record supplemented by a detailed patient history. Although the electronic medical record is generally assumed to be accurate, it may be that allergies are erroneously listed or not based on sound medical practice. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate allergies listed in the electronic medical record of children presenting for surgery and determine their origin, authenticity, and impact on perioperative care.

METHODS

Eligible patients included those presenting for a surgical procedure in the main operating room, who were ≤ 21 years of age, with a drug allergy listed on the EMR. Prior to intraoperative care, an electronic survey questionnaire containing questions related to medication allergies was provided to a guardian or parent. Two anesthesiology physicians reviewed the survey responses to determine the validity of any reported allergies. A second electronic survey was given postoperatively to the attending anesthesiologist to determine whether the documented allergy impacted anesthetic care.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 250 patients, ranging in age from 5 to 14 years (median age 9 years). All of the patients had at least one allergy listed on the electronic medical record. Seventy of the 250 patients (28%) had more than one drug allergy listed for a total of 351 medication allergies. The majority of the listed allergies were related to antibiotics including 155 (44%) from the penicillin family, 26 (7%) cephalosporins, 16 (5%) sulfonamides, and 36 (10%) other antimicrobial agents. Other commonly listed allergies were 27 (8%) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and 15 (4%) opioids. The remaining 76 (22%) included a miscellaneous list of other medications. On further review of the allergies, the survey was completed for 301 medications. After physician review, 135 of 301 (45%) responses were considered consistent with IgE reactions "true allergy," 73 (24%) were deemed less relevant to IgE reactions "unlikely true allergy," and 93 (31%) were not related to IgE reactions "not an allergy." Care alterations during surgery were uncommon regardless of whether the issue was assessed as a true allergy (11%), unlikely to be a true allergy (3%), or not a true allergy (13%).

CONCLUSION

A significant portion of the documented allergies in children are not true allergies, but rather recognized adverse effects (apnea from an opioid, renal failure from an NSAIDs) or other nonallergic concerns (gastrointestinal upset such as nausea). Erroneously listed allergies may lead to unnecessary alterations in patient care during perioperative care. A careful analysis of the allergy list on the EMR should be supplemented by a thorough patient history with specific questions related to the drug allergy. Once this is accomplished, the allergy listed should be updated to avoid its erroneous impact on perioperative care.