Anaesthesia for non-cardiac surgery in children and young adults with Fontan physiology.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with Fontan physiology require non-cardiac surgery. Our objectives were to characterise perioperative outcomes of patients with Fontan physiology undergoing non-cardiac surgery and to identify characteristics which predict discharge on the same day. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Children and young adults with Fontan physiology who underwent a non-cardiac surgery or an imaging study under anaesthesia between 2013 and 2019 at a single-centre academic children's hospital were reviewed in a retrospective observational study. Continuous variables were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, and categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis results are presented by adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p values. RESULTS: 182 patients underwent 344 non-cardiac procedures with anaesthesia. The median age was 11 years (IQR 5.2-18), 56.4% were male. General anaesthesia was administered in 289 (84%). 125 patients (36.3%) were discharged on the same day. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors that reduced the odds of same-day discharge included the chronic condition index (OR 0.91 per additional chronic condition, 95% CI 0.76-0.98, p = 0.022), undergoing a major surgical procedure (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05-0.64, p = 0.009), the use of intraoperative inotropes (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.94, p = 0.031), and preoperative admission (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.1-0.57, p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: In a contemporary cohort of paediatric and young adults with Fontan physiology, 36.3% were able to be discharged on the same day of their non-cardiac procedure. Well selected patients with Fontan physiology can undergo anaesthesia without complications and be discharged same day.

Anesthesia for pediatric rigid bronchoscopy and related airway surgery: Tips and tricks.

Bronchoscopy-guided diagnostic and interventional airway procedures are gaining in popularity and prominence in pediatric surgery. Many of these procedures have been used successfully in the adult population but have not been used in children due to a lack of appropriately sized instruments. Recent technological advances have led to the creation of instruments to enable many more diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be done under bronchoscopic guidance. These procedures vary significantly in their length and invasiveness and require vastly different anesthetic plans that must be easily adapted to situational and procedural changes. In addition to close communication between the anesthesiology and procedural teams; an understanding of the type of procedure, anesthetic requirements, and potential patient risks is paramount to a successful anesthetic. This review will focus on new rigid bronchoscopic procedures, goals for their respective anesthetic management, and unique tips and trick for how to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation in each scenario.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Perioperative Cardiovascular and Respiratory Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Noncardiac Procedures.

BACKGROUND: While mortality and adverse perioperative events after noncardiac surgery in children with a broad range of congenital cardiac lesions have been investigated using large multiinstitutional databases, to date single-center studies addressing adverse outcomes in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing noncardiac surgery have only included small numbers of patients with significant heart disease. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidences of perioperative cardiovascular and respiratory events in a large cohort of patients from a single institution with a broad range of congenital cardiac lesions undergoing noncardiac procedures and to determine risk factors for these events. METHODS: We identified 3010 CHD patients presenting for noncardiac procedures in our institution over a 5-year period. We collected demographic information, including procedure performed, cardiac diagnosis, ventricular function as assessed by echocardiogram within 6 months of the procedure, and classification of CHD into 3 groups (minor, major, or severe CHD) based on residual lesion burden and cardiovascular functional status. Characteristics related to conduct of anesthesia care were also collected. The primary outcome variables for our analysis were the incidences of intraoperative cardiovascular and respiratory events. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors for these 2 outcomes. RESULTS: The incidence of cardiovascular events was 11.5% and of respiratory events was 4.7%. Univariate analysis and multivariable analysis demonstrated that American Society of Anesthesiologists (≥3), emergency cases, major and severe CHD, single-ventricle physiology, ventricular dysfunction, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, and pulmonary procedures were associated with perioperative cardiovascular events. Respiratory events were associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists (≥4) and otolaryngology, gastrointestinal, general surgery, and maxillofacial procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative cardiovascular events and respiratory events in patients with CHD were relatively common. While cardiovascular events were highly associated with cardiovascular status, respiratory events were not associated with cardiovascular status.

Evolution of the extraglottic airway: a review of its history, applications, and practical tips for success.

The development of the laryngeal mask airway in 1981 was an important first step toward widespread use and acceptance of the extraglottic airway (EGA). The term extraglottic is used in this review to encompass those airways that do not violate the larynx, in addition to those with a supraglottic position. Although the term extraglottic may be broad and include airways such as tracheostomy tubes, the term supraglottic does not describe a large number of devices with subglottic components and is too narrow for a discussion of modern devices. EGAs have flourished in practice, and now a wide variety of devices are available for an ever-expanding array of applications. In this review we attempt to clarify the current state of EGA devices new and old, and to illustrate their use in numerous settings. Particular attention is paid to the use of EGAs in special situations such as obstetric, pediatric, prehospital, and nontraditional "out of the operating room" settings. The role of the EGA in difficult airway management is discussed. EGA devices have saved countless lives because they facilitate ventilation when facemask ventilation and tracheal intubation were not possible. Traditionally, difficult airway management focused on successful tracheal intubation. The EGA has allowed a paradigm shift, changing the emphasis of difficult airway management from tracheal intubation to ventilation and oxygenation. EGA devices have proved to be useful adjuncts to tracheal intubation; in particular, the combination of EGA devices and fiberoptic guidance is a powerful technique for difficult airway management. Despite their utility, EGAs do have disadvantages. For example, they typically do not provide the same protection from pulmonary aspiration of regurgitated gastric material as a cuffed tracheal tube. The risk of aspiration of gastric contents persists despite advances in EGA design that have sought to address the issue. The association between excessive EGA cuff pressure and potential morbidity is becoming increasingly recognized. The widespread success and adoption of the EGA into clinical practice has revolutionized airway management and anesthetic care. Although the role of EGAs is well established, the user must know each device's particular strengths and limitations and understand that limited data are available for guidance until a new device has been well studied.

Catecholamine-secreting neuroblastoma in a 4-month-old infant: perioperative management.

Preoperative alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor block with phenoxybenzamine and labetalol, the intraoperative course of a 4-month-old infant with neuroblastoma and elevated catecholamines causing sweating, hypertension, and tachycardia, are presented. We recommend determination of catecholamine levels and pretreatment with alpha-adrenergic and--if needed--beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists in infants with neuroblastoma and hypertension, tachycardia, or sweating.