Epidemiology and incidence of severe respiratory critical events in ear, nose and throat surgery in children in Europe: A prospective multicentre observational study

Comparative study on wound healing and infection between open and minimally invasive surgical methods in pediatric otolaryngology surgery

Pediatric otolaryngology surgeries are crucial interventions requiring careful consideration of surgical methods to optimize outcomes. The choice between open and minimally invasive surgical approaches in this context warrants thorough investigation. While both methods aim to address ear, nose, and throat conditions in children, a comparative study assessing their impact on crucial factors such as intraoperative parameters, wound healing, complications, and postoperative pain is essential. This study aims to compare the effects of open and minimally invasive surgical methods on wound healing and infection in pediatric otolaryngology surgery, and provide a scientific basis for the selection of surgical methods. Two groups of patients were selected, with 90 people in each group. One group received open surgery and the other received minimally invasive surgery. Recording the intraoperative time, anesthesia time, and intraoperative blood loss; the number of days required for wound healing; the occurrence of wound-related complications; the comparison of pain on postoperative Days 1, 3, and 7; and the factors influencing postoperative wound healing were analyzed. In the minimally invasive surgery group, the intraoperative time was shorter, the anesthesia time was relatively reduced, and the amount of bleeding was significantly reduced. Wounds also take fewer days to heal and have lower rates of wound-related complications. When comparing the pain on 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery, the minimally invasive surgery group had relatively mild pain. Analysis of postoperative wound healing factors showed that minimally invasive surgical methods have a positive impact on healing. In pediatric otolaryngology surgery, minimally invasive surgery performs better than open surgery in terms of intraoperative operation time, anesthesia time, blood loss, wound healing time, complication rate, and postoperative pain. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery may be a safer and more effective surgical method.

Applying the Participatory Slow Design Approach to a mHealth Application for Family Caregivers in Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery

Pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery is very common, and its outcomes may improve with family education. In this regard, mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps), which are on the rise due to digital transformation, can be beneficial in healthcare. This study outlines the user-centered design and development of a mHealth app (version 5.15.0) to support family caregivers during the perioperative process of pediatric ENT surgery. Conducted over two years in an Italian maternal and child health hospital (January 2020-May 2022), the study employed a participatory design method based on the Information System Research (ISR) framework and guided by the principles of Slow Medicine. Utilizing the Relevance, Rigor, and Design cycles of the ISR framework, the mHealth app's content, functionalities, and technical features were defined and developed. A committee of fifteen experts guided the process with input from 25 family caregivers and 24 healthcare providers enrolled in the study. The mHealth app content was structured around five crucial educational moments characterizing the ENT perioperative period, providing evidence-based information on surgical procedures, strategies for preparing children for hospitalization and surgery, pain management, and post-discharge care. The mHealth app featured a function that sends customized notifications to guide caregivers at specific perioperative stages. The development of mHealth apps by implementing a rigorous, participatory, and Slow design process can foster accessible and family-centered information and care in the field of maternal and child health and beyond.

[Statement on the lower age limit for outpatient adenotomies and tonsillotomies]

At the beginning of 2023, there have been significant changes to the regulations for outpatient surgery in Germany, which were set out in a trilateral self-administration agreement between the umbrella association of statutory health insurance companies, the German Hospital Association and the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. Among other things, a catalog stated circumstances under which an operation should not be carried out on an outpatient basis or should only be carried out with doubt. This catalog explains the patient's age: up to the first year of life, inpatient performance of a service can be justified. This formulation in itself means that children from one year of age on should regularly undergo outpatient surgery.In the german scientific societies for otolaryngology, head and neck surgery as well as for anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, doubts arose as to whether this age limit could also be scientifically justified for operations in the throat such as adenotomy or tonsillotomy.A search was carried out in international guidelines and in the international literature and the statements were evaluated. The results of this literature search were discussed with representatives of the Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Working Group (AG PädHNO) of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO-KHC) and the scientific working group for pediatric anesthesia (WAKKA) of the German Society for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) in conferences.The consensus revealed that a strict age limit of the first year of life is not appropriate for the outpatient performance of adenotomies and tonsillotomies. First of all, specifying a strict age limit is questionable because, regardless of age, a number of other medical and social factors influence the responsible performance of outpatient operations. Furthermore, the age limit of one year is not considered appropriate in view of literature, guidelines and practical experience in the international area. The assessment of the literature and the consideration of the implementation in the international area make an age limit in the range of 2-3 years seem more appropriate.This review provides the responsible doctors with a variety of insights, aspects and arguments so that they can make their decision to carry out these operations on an outpatient or inpatient basis appropriately and responsibly.

A pragmatic approach to quality improvement in pediatric anesthesia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The concept of quality improvement (QI) is well implemented in pediatric anesthesia. Conductance, reporting and publishing of QI projects and -results is well described and promoted. However, the perception of quality might differ between stakeholders and beneficiaries. Based on measures of quality as perceived by healthcare professionals and pediatric patients, a pragmatic approach to choosing the relevant quality measure is suggested.

RECENT FINDINGS

Design of QI projects is often motivated by an incentive to avoid errors and adverse events, and with an overall aim to reduce morbidity and mortality. From a patient- and parent point of view, avoidance of perioperative stress and anxiety might be a priority measure of quality.

SUMMARY

In an attempt to embrace both perspectives of quality in pediatric anesthesia care, it is suggested to choose quality items for improvement based on patient safety, professional excellency and benignancy. By following this approach, QI is expected to remain relevant to both healthcare professionals and patients.

Anesthetic considerations in children with asthma

Due to the high prevalence of asthma and general airway reactivity, anesthesiologists frequently encounter children with asthma or asthma-like symptoms. This review focuses on the epidemiology, the underlying pathophysiology, and perioperative management of children with airway reactivity, including controlled and uncontrolled asthma. It spans from preoperative optimization to optimized intraoperative management, airway management, and ventilation strategies. There are three leading causes for bronchospasm (1) mechanical (eg, airway manipulation), (2) non-immunological anaphylaxis (anaphylactoid reaction), and (3) immunological anaphylaxis. Children with increased airway reactivity may benefit from a premedication with beta-2 agonists, non-invasive airway management, and deep removal of airway devices. While desflurane should be avoided in pediatric anesthesia due to an increased risk of bronchospasm, other volatile agents are potent bronchodilators. Propofol is superior in blunting airway reflexes and, therefore, well suited for anesthesia induction in children with increased airway reactivity.

Risk assessment and optimization strategies to reduce perioperative respiratory adverse events in pediatric anesthesia-Part 1 patient and surgical factors

Pediatric surgery cases are increasing worldwide. Within pediatric anesthesia, perioperative respiratory adverse events are the most common precipitant leading to serious complications. They can have intraoperative impact on the surgical procedure itself, lead to premature case termination and in addition may have postoperative impact resulting in longer hospitalization stays and costs. Although most perioperative respiratory adverse events can be promptly detected and managed, and will not lead to any sequelae, the risk of life-threatening progression remains. The incidence of respiratory adverse events increases in children with comorbid respiratory and/or nonrespiratory illnesses. Optimized perioperative patient care, risk-stratified care level choice, and practitioners with appropriate training allow for risk mitigation. This review will discuss patient and surgical risk factors with a focus on common patient comorbid illnesses and review scoring systems to quantify risk.

Postoperative respiratory adverse events in children after endoscopic laryngeal cleft repair

PURPOSE

Due to the serious nature of respiratory adverse events, understanding their incidence can help in decisions regarding safe postoperative disposition. There have been no studies, however, evaluating the risk of postoperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) in children undergoing endoscopic laryngeal cleft (LC) repair, which is the primary objective of this study.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent LC repair at a large tertiary children's hospital from 2015 to 2020. PRAEs were defined as having at least one of the following: remained intubated, required reintubation, required positive pressure ventilation, required high flow O₂ nasal cannula, or required more than one dose of racemic epinephrine. Univariate analyses compared demographic, preoperative characteristics, and intraoperative characteristics between those with and without a PRAE.

RESULTS

Overall, 8/26 (31%) patients had a PRAE and there were no differences between patients who did and did not have a PRAE and most comorbidities. Younger age (p = 0.03), being male (p = 0.07), and being admitted preoperatively (p = 0.07) were potentially associated with PRAEs. Need for intraoperative intubation for any reason or duration was associated with increased incidence of PRAEs (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

The overall 31% incidence of postoperative respiratory adverse events reaffirms the appropriateness of PICU disposition for a large proportion of children undergoing endoscopic LC repair. Further studies with increased sample sizes are needed to tease apart patient or procedure-specific factors that significantly increase the risk of respiratory adverse events to have more definitive evidence regarding safe postoperative disposition.

Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events Among Pediatric Surgical Patients in University Hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia; A Prospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) are frequent among pediatrics surgical patients and are accountable for 3/4^th of perioperative critical incidents and 1/3^rd of cardiac arrests.

OBJECTIVE

Assess the prevalence and factors associated with PRAEs among pediatric surgical patients in University Hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, 2020.

METHODOLOGY

After ethical approval obtained prospective observational study was conducted among 210 pediatric surgical patients. Perioperative respiratory adverse events were defined as the occurrence of any episode of single/combination of coughing, breath holding, hypoxemia, laryngospasm and bronchospasm. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed and variables with p < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval were considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PRAEs was 26.2% (CI: 20.5-30.9%). A total of 129 episodes of PRAEs were occurred and of them, 89 (69.0%) were occurred in the postoperative period. Desaturation was the predominant adverse event which was observed 61 (47.3%) times. Age <1 year (AOR: 3.6, CI: 1.3-10.0), ASA ≥ 3 (AOR: 5.2, CI: 1.9-22.9), upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) (AOR: 7.6, CI: 1.9-30.2), secretions in the upper airway (AOR: 4.8, CI: 1.4-15.9) and airway related surgery (AOR: 6.0, CI: 1.5-24.1) were significantly associated with PRAEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of PRAEs was high among pediatric surgical patients; the postoperative period was the most critical time for the occurrence of PRAEs and desaturation was the commonest PRAE. Age <1 year, URTIs (recent or active), secretions in the upper airways, ASA ≥ 3 and airway related surgery were significantly associated with PRAEs. Clinicians should perform effective risk assessment, preoperative optimization and preparation for the management of PRAEs.

A decade later, there are still major issues to be addressed in paediatric anaesthesia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite real advances in paediatric anaesthesia management, such as a growing awareness of the relevance of anaesthesia conduct as well as of the lack of evidence for neurotoxicity of anaesthetic agents, it must be said that there are still important questions in our specialty that remain unanswered. Standardization and harmonization of airway management, analgesia techniques and outcome measures are the important issues we are facing at the beginning of this decade.

RECENT FINDINGS

Major improvements in airway management of neonates and infants resulted from the introduction of videolaryngoscopes and the systematic use of nasal oxygenation during endotracheal intubation. Similarly, the increasing popularity of dexmedetomidine has led to the generalization of its use, which, considering that it may produce undesirable effects, poses a challenge for the future. Moreover, recent systematic reviews have confirmed a lack of evidence for the efficacy of many techniques used in clinical practice.

SUMMARY

The shift in research from the neurotoxicity of anaesthetic agents to factors related to anaesthetic conduct are discussed. Examples for an improvement in anaesthesia management are highlighted with advocacy for including these evidence-based findings in routine clinical practice. Finally, the impact of using clinically relevant age-related and patient-centred perioperative outcomes is essential for comparing and/or interpreting the safety and efficacy of anaesthesia and analgesia management in children.

Incidence of post-anesthetic respiratory complications in pediatrics. Observational, single-center study in Medellin, Colombia

Introduction: Post-anesthetic complications, particularly respiratory complications, continue to be a source of concern due to their high frequency, particularly in pediatrics. Objective: To describe the incidence of respiratory complications in the post-anesthesia care unit of an intermediate complexity center during a six-month period, and to explore the variables associated with major respiratory complications. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study based on clinical record reviews. The records of the post-anesthesia care unit of an intermediate complexity pediatric institution located in Medellin, Colombia, were reviewed. This center uses a nursing-based care model that includes patient extubation in the post-anesthesia care unit. Results: The records of 1181 patients were analyzed. The cumulative incidences of major complications were bronchospasm 1.44%, laryngospasm 0.68% and respiratory depression 0.59%. There were no cases of cardiac arrest or acute pulmonary edema. A history of respiratory infection less than 15 days before the procedure, rhinitis and female sex were associated with major respiratory complications. Conclusions: A low frequency of respiratory complications was found during care provided by nursing staff trained in anesthesia recovery and pediatric airway in the post-anesthesia care unit.

Safety, efficacy and airway complications of the flexible laryngeal mask airway in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: A retrospective study of 6661 patients

OBJECTIVES

Although the flexible laryngeal mask airway (FLMA) provides considerable advantages in head and neck procedures, little is known about its safety and efficacy in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the success rate of FLMA and relevant airway complications in FESS under general anaesthesia.

METHODS

A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis was performed from 2015 to 2019. All patients scheduled for FLMA ventilation were identified. Patient characteristics, length of the surgery, FLMA size, failed FLMA cases requiring endotracheal intubation, immediate adverse airway events and delayed airway injuries were recorded. The primary outcomes included the FLMA success rate, which was defined as primary success after induction and final success after the whole surgical procedure. The secondary outcomes were specific clinical factors associated with FLMA failure and airway complications related to FLMA usage.

RESULTS

Of the 6661 patients included in our study, primary success was achieved in 6572 (98.7%), and final success was achieved in 6512 (97.8%). Failure occurred in 89 patients (1.3%) during induction, in 14 (0.2%) during surgical preparation and in 46 (0.7%) during the intraoperative procedure. All patients with failed FLMA ventilation were successfully switched to endotracheal intubation. Male sex, advanced age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (ASA) and higher body mass index (BMI) were independent risk factors associated with failed FLMA. Immediate adverse respiratory events were observed in 0.85% of the patients, and delayed airway injuries associated with use of FLMA were observed in 0.07%.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study demonstrates a high success rate for FLMA (97.8% in 6661 patients undergoing FESS). Adverse airway events and injuries associated with FLMA are rare, but clinicians should remain vigilant so that early diagnosis and prompt treatment can be provided.

[German S1 guideline: obstructive sleep apnea in the context of tonsil surgery with or without adenoidectomy in children-perioperative management]

Otolaryngologic surgery is one of the most frequent operative interventions performed in children. Tonsil surgery with or without adenoidectomy due to hyperplasia of the tonsils and adenoids with obstruction of the upper airways with or without tympanic ventilation disorder is the most common of these procedures. Children with a history of sleep apnoea (OSA) suffer from a significantly increased risk of perioperative respiratory complications. Cases of death and severe permanent neurologic damage have been reported due to apnoea and increased opioid sensitivity. The current guideline represents a pragmatic risk-adjusted approach. Patients with confirmed or suspected OSA should be treated perioperatively according to their individual risks and requirements, in order to avoid severe permanent damage.

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: Preoperative and neurocognitive considerations for perioperative management

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 7.5% of the pediatric population and is associated with a variety of behavioral and neurocognitive sequelae. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is critical to halting and potentially reversing these changes. Depending on the severity of the OSA and comorbid conditions, different treatment paradigms can be pursued, each of which has its own unique risk:benefit ratio. Adenotonsillectomy is first-line recommended surgical treatment for pediatric OSA. However, it carries its own perioperative risks and the decision regarding surgical timing is therefore made in the context of procedural risk versus patient benefit. This article presents the seminal perioperative and neurocognitive risks from pediatric OSA to aid with perioperative management.

Anesthesia timing for children undergoing therapeutic cardiac catheterization after upper respiratory infection: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to analyze anesthesia timing and perioperative respiratory adverse event (PRAE) risk factors in children undergoing therapeutic cardiac catheterization after upper respiratory tract infection (URI).

METHODS

We prospectively included children for elective therapeutic cardiac catheterization. Parents or legal guardians were asked to complete a questionnaire on the child's demographics, tobacco exposure, and URI symptoms. PRAEs (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coughing, airway secretion, airway obstruction, and oxygen desaturation) as well as details of anesthesia management were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 332 children, 201 had a history of URI in the preceding eight weeks. The occurrence rate of PRAEs in children with URI≤two weeks reached the highest proportion, which was higher than that in children without URI (66.3% vs. 46.6%, P=0.007). The overall incidence of PRAEs in children with URI in 3-8 weeks was significantly lower than that in children with URI in the recent ≤two weeks (49.0% vs. 66.3%, P=0.007), and similar to that in the control group (49.0% vs. 46.6%). Multivariate analysis showed association between PRAEs and type of congenital heart disease (CHD) (P<0.001), anesthesia timing (P=0.007), and age (P=0.021). Delayed schedule (two weeks after URI) minimized the risk of PRAEs to the level comparable to that observed in children without URI (OR, 1.11; 95% CI: 0.64-1.91; P=0.707).

CONCLUSIONS

If treatment is not urgent, a pediatric patient at a high risk of PRAEs will be benefit from the postponement of an interventional operation by at least two weeks after URI.