Risk factors for administration of additional reversal following neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium in children: A retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and risk factors for residual neuromuscular blockade in children remain poorly characterized. We hypothesize that specific patient and anesthetic risk factors may be associated with the administration of additional reversal in children following initial reversal of rocuronium with neostigmine. METHODS: Our electronic health record was queried for patients <18 years of age who received rocuronium and reversal with neostigmine from 2017 through 2020. Patients receiving other nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs were excluded. The outcome of interest was defined as the administration of additional neostigmine or sugammadex following primary reversal with neostigmine. Time between the last dose of rocuronium and initial dose of neostigmine, and the cumulative dose of rocuronium were dichotomized. These were combined with other covariates including age, weight, sex, racial group, procedure type, ASA physical status, >1 rocuronium dose administered during the procedure, initial neostigmine dose <0.05 mg kg-1 , use of train-of-four monitoring, duration of anesthesia, inpatient or outpatient, emergency case, neuromuscular disease, and extremes of weight, to assess possible associations with the primary outcome. RESULTS: During the study period, 101/6373 (1.58%) patients received rocuronium and additional reversal. Dichotomization of time between last dose of rocuronium and neostigmine yielded <28 min since the last dose of rocuronium and cumulative dose of rocuronium >0.45 mg kg-1 hr-1 . These were associated with the administration of additional reversal with an OR 1.52 (95% CI, 1.08-2.35) and OR 1.71 (95% CI, 1.10-2.67), respectively. Other risk factors included an initial neostigmine dose <0.05 mg kg-1 , OR 4.98 (95% CI, 2.84-6.49), and African American race, OR 1.78 (95% CI, 1.07-2.87). CONCLUSION: Risk factors associated with the administration of additional reversal included time <28 min from the last dose of rocuronium to initial dose of neostigmine, cumulative dose of rocuronium >0.45 mg kg-1 hr-1 , initial neostigmine dose <0.05 mg kg-1 , and African American race.

Endobronchial Intubation to Facilitate Extraluminal Bronchial Blocker Placement in Young Children: A Retrospective Case Series.

OBJECTIVES: Extraluminal bronchial blocker placement has become a well-accepted approach to one-lung ventilation in young children. In some cases, technical issues with placement may require alternative approaches to correct bronchial blocker positioning. The primary aim of this study was to review the authors' experience with using endobronchial intubation to facilitate extraluminal bronchial blocker placement in young children. DESIGN: Single-center case series of pediatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery and one-lung ventilation using a bronchial blocker. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric patients < three years of age undergoing thoracic surgery and one-lung ventilation who underwent bronchial blocker placement using endobronchial intubation to facilitate blocker placement. In all patients, the bronchial blocker was inserted through a selectively mainstemmed endotracheal tube to facilitate blocker positioning. INTERVENTIONS: No interventions were performed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fifteen patients were identified after a query of the local electronic health record. There were five right-sided and ten left-sided placements in this cohort. Bronchial blocker placement was successful in 14 of 15 patients using endobronchial intubation to facilitate bronchial blocker placement. In one patient, the bronchial blocker was discovered in the nonsurgical bronchus, following placement with this technique. The bronchial blocker was repositioned manually into the desired mainstem bronchus prior to lateral positioning. CONCLUSIONS: Mainstem intubation can be used to facilitate bronchial blocker placement in young children and represents an alternative approach to extraluminal bronchial blocker placement.

It's Not Over Till It's Over: A Prospective Cohort Study and Analysis of "Anesthesia Stat!" Emergency Calls in the Pediatric Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Background Emergency "Anesthesia Stat!" (AS!) calls remain a common practice in medical centers even when advanced communication infrastructures are available. We hypothesize that the analysis of post-procedure "AS!" calls will lead to actionable insights which may enhance patient safety. Methods After institutional review board approval, we prospectively collected data from April 2015 through May 2018 on "AS!" calls throughout the pediatric operating rooms (OR), off-site locations, and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) at a tertiary university medical center. Data recorded included demographic information, location, time of the event, event duration, vital signs, medications, anesthesia staff, attending anesthesiologist, and staff responding to the call. A narrative account of the event was also documented. Results A total of 82 "AS!" calls occurred, with ages ranging from 11 days old to 17 years old. Forty-nine of the 82 calls (60%) occurred at emergence. Seventy-one of the 82 calls (87%) were solely respiratory-related. Thirty-five of 49 emergence calls (71%) occurred in the PACU. Further, 34 of 35 PACU calls (97%) were respiratory-related, with 30 of 35 PACU calls (86%) associated with desaturation requiring intervention by anesthesia staff. Finally, 31 of 35 PACU calls (89%) occurred within 30 minutes of patient arrival to PACU. Conclusion Analysis of "AS!" events from our PACU continues to support the need for the prompt and continuous availability of at least one staff member with advanced airway management skills. Further, pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia and surgery should likely be monitored for a minimum of 30 minutes following arrival in the PACU.

Hypoxemia in Young Children Undergoing One-lung Ventilation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: One-lung ventilation in children remains a specialized practice with low case numbers even at tertiary centers, preventing an assessment of best practices. The authors hypothesized that certain case factors may be associated with a higher risk of intraprocedural hypoxemia in children undergoing thoracic surgery and one-lung ventilation. METHODS: The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes database and a local quality improvement database were queried for documentation of one-lung ventilation in children 2 months to 3 yr of age inclusive between 2010 and 2020. Patients undergoing vascular or other cardiac procedures were excluded. All records were reviewed electronically for the presence of hypoxemia, oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2) less than 90% for 3 min or more continuously, and severe hypoxemia, Spo2 less than 90% for 5 min or more continuously during one-lung ventilation. Records were also assessed for hypercarbia, end-tidal CO2 greater than 60 mmHg for 5 min or more or a Paco2 greater than 60 on arterial blood gas. Covariates assessed for association with these outcomes included age, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists (Schaumburg, Illinois) Physical Status 3 or greater, duration of one-lung ventilation, preoperative Spo2 less than 98%, bronchial blocker versus endobronchial intubation, left operative side, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, lower tidal volume ventilation (tidal volume less than or equal to 6 ml/kg plus positive end expiratory pressure greater than or equal to 4 cm H2O for more than 80% of the duration of one-lung ventilation), and type of procedure. RESULTS: Three hundred six cases from 15 institutions were included for analysis. Hypoxemia and severe hypoxemia occurred in 81 of 306 (26%) patients and 56 of 306 (18%), respectively. Hypercarbia occurred in 153 of 306 (50%). Factors associated with lower risk of hypoxemia in multivariable analysis included left operative side (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.251 to 0.78]) and bronchial blocker use (odds ratio, 0.351 [95% CI, 0.177 to 0.67]). Additionally, use of a bronchial blocker was associated with a reduced risk of severe hypoxemia (odds ratio, 0.290 [95% CI, 0.125 to 0.62]). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a bronchial blocker was associated with a lower risk of hypoxemia in young children undergoing one-lung ventilation.

Bronchial Blocker Entrapment in a 7-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report.

We present the case of a 7-month-old infant undergoing thoracotomy and left lower lobe lobectomy who experienced a significant complication related to lung isolation with a bronchial blocker. Despite good isolation and seemingly appropriate positioning, the bronchial blocker became entrapped within the staple line at the bronchial stump. Fortunately, the surgeon was able to free the blocker. Going forward, we recommend clinicians be vigilant in positioning the blocker just distal to the carina in all cases and, further, consider retracting the blocker into the trachea before surgical intervention on the airway to avoid inadvertent entrapment of the device.

Experience with a "Feed and Swaddle" program in infants up to six months of age.

BACKGROUND: Feed and swaddle is a technique in which an infant is fed and allowed to fall asleep to facilitate diagnostic imaging. This study reviews our experience and diagnostic success in premature and term infants up to 6 months old undergoing brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a feed and swaddle technique and with comparable patients imaged under anesthesia. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all infants ≤6 months who underwent brain MRI at our institution between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2016. We recorded and analyzed demographic information, scan indication, scan length, prematurity status, anesthetic technique if used, complications, and diagnostic success or failure. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four term infants underwent brain MRI using a feed and swaddle technique. The success rate in term infants <90 days was 91.1% (113/124) versus 95.0% (38/40) in infants ≥90 days and ≤181 days old. Fifty-three premature infants underwent feed and swaddle for brain MRI with a diagnostic success rate of 92.5% (49/53). No complications were noted in any feed and swaddle patients. Those who received anesthesia had a diagnostic success rate of 100% (70/70) but experienced complications including hypoxemia, 14.3% (10/70); hypothermia, 18.9% (10/53); bradycardia, 10.1% (7/69); and hypotension, 4.2% (3/70). CONCLUSION: Given the high rate of success and absence of complications with feed and swaddle in children ≤6 months for brain MRI and the presence of anesthesia-related complications, most infants should undergo a trial of feed and swaddle prior to undergoing brain MRI with anesthesia.

Assessment of Common Criteria for Awake Extubation in Infants and Young Children.

BACKGROUND: Practice patterns surrounding awake extubation of pediatric surgical patients remain largely undocumented. This study assessed the value of commonly used predictors of fitness for extubation to determine which were most salient in predicting successful extubation following emergence from general anesthesia with a volatile anesthetic in young children. METHODS: This prospective, observational study was performed in 600 children from 0 to 7 yr of age. The presence or absence of nine commonly used extubation criteria in children were recorded at the time of extubation including: facial grimace, eye opening, low end-tidal anesthetic concentration, spontaneous tidal volume greater than 5 ml/kg, conjugate gaze, purposeful movement, movement other than coughing, laryngeal stimulation test, and oxygen saturation. Extubations were graded as Successful, Intervention Required, or Major Intervention Required using a standard set of criteria. The Intervention Required and Major Intervention Required outcomes were combined as a single outcome for analysis of predictors of success. RESULTS: Successful extubation occurred in 92.7% (556 of 600) of cases. Facial grimace odds ratio, 1.93 (95% CI, 1.03 to 3.60; P = 0.039), purposeful movement odds ratio, 2.42 (95% CI, 1.14 to 5.12; P = 0.022), conjugate gaze odds ratio, 2.10 (95% CI, 1.14 to 4.01; P = 0.031), eye opening odds ratio, 4.44 (95% CI, 1.06 to 18.64; P= 0.042), and tidal volume greater than 5 ml/kg odds ratio, 2.66 (95% CI, 1.21 to 5.86; P = 0.015) were univariately associated with the Successful group. A stepwise increase in any one, in any order, of these five predictors being present, from one out of five and up to five out of five yielded an increasing positive predictive value for successful extubation of 88.3% (95% CI, 82.4 to 94.3), 88.4% (95% CI, 83.5 to 93.3), 96.3% (95% CI, 93.4 to 99.2), 97.4% (95% CI, 94.4 to 100), and 100% (95% CI, 90 to 100). CONCLUSIONS: Conjugate gaze, facial grimace, eye opening, purposeful movement, and tidal volume greater than 5 ml/kg were each individually associated with extubation success in pediatric surgical patients after volatile anesthetic. Further, the use of a multifactorial approach using these predictors, may lead to a more rational and robust approach to successful awake extubation.

A generalized multistage approach to oral and nasal intubation in infants with Pierre Robin sequence: A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Airway management in children with Pierre Robin sequence in the infantile period can be challenging and frequently requires specialized approaches. AIMS: The aim of this study was to review our experience with a multistage approach to oral and nasal intubation in young infants with Pierre Robin sequence. METHODS: After IRB approval, we reviewed 13 infants with Pierre Robin sequence who underwent a multistage approach to intubation in the operating room for mandibular distractor or gastrostomy tube placement. All patients underwent awake placement of either an LMA-Classic™ #1 or ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway size #1. General anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane, and patients were relaxed with rocuronium. The laryngeal mask airway was replaced with an air-Q® 1.0. Children were then intubated through the air-Q® 1.0 using a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. In cases that required a nasotracheal tube, the oral tube was left in place while a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope loaded with a similar internal diameter nasal Ring-Adair-Elwyn (RAE) tube was introduced into the nares. Once the scope was in proximity to the glottis, the oral tube was removed and the patient was intubated with the nasal RAE over the fiberscope. RESULTS: All 13 patients with Pierre Robin sequence were successfully intubated. We observed no periods of desaturation during placement and induction with the LMA-Classic™ or ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway except in one patient who was in extremis in the neonatal intensive care unit and required emergent transport to the operating room with the laryngeal mask airway in place. We observed several brief periods of desaturation during the apneas associated with fiberoptic intubation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we were able to use a ventilation-driven, multistaged approach using the unique properties of different supraglottic airways to facilitate oral and nasal intubation in 13 infants with Pierre Robin sequence.

An initial experience with an Extraluminal EZ-Blocker® : A new alternative for 1-lung ventilation in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The need for 1-lung ventilation in school age, pediatric patients is uncommon and as a result there are relatively few devices available to facilitate lung isolation in this population. Furthermore, little is known about the efficacy and techniques of placement of the currently available devices. One of the newest devices available that may be appropriate in this age group is the EZ-Blocker. AIMS: We aimed to examine our initial experience with the EZ-Blocker to evaluate the performance of this device with respect to potential improvements in technique and patient selection going forward. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all pediatric patients who underwent 1-lung ventilation with an EZ-Blocker since the blocker became available at our institution. We recorded demographics, details of placement, intraoperative course, number of repositions, and any postoperative morbidity related to blocker placement or 1-lung ventilation. RESULTS: We were able to correctly place the EZ-Blocker and achieve lung isolation in 8 of 11 patients. There was a single episode of repositioning required during 1-lung ventilation with an EZ-Blocker. CONCLUSION: The EZ-Blocker was successful in providing lung isolation for a majority of our school age patients. Size constraints in children <6 years of age, excessive secretions, and distortions of tracheal anatomy seemed to be the greatest hindrances to successful placement and positioning of the device. Once correctly positioned, however, the EZ-Blocker may be more stable than the Arndt endobronchial blocker.

A comparison of 3 ventilation strategies in children younger than 1 year using a Proseal laryngeal mask airway: a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine quantitative differences in several routinely measured ventilation parameters using a standardized anesthetic technique and 3 different ventilation modalities in patients younger than 1 year with a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA). DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-nine American Society Anesthesiologists classifications 1 to 2, pediatric patients younger than 1 year. INTERVENTIONS: Three different ventilation strategies (spontaneous ventilation [SV], pressure support ventilation [PSV], and pressure-controlled ventilation [PCV]) were randomly applied to patients who underwent a standardized mask induction with sevoflurane/oxygen and propofol 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 µg/kg administered intravenously followed by PLMA insertion. Patients were maintained on sevoflurane and N2O. MEASUREMENTS: We measured the differences in end-tidal CO2 (etco2), tidal volume (TV), and respiratory rate (RR) over time between SV, PSV, and PCV. These data were recorded at 5-minute intervals. MAIN RESULTS: etco2 (mm Hg) was not significantly higher in the SV vs PSV (P=2.11) and SV vs PCV (P=.24). TV (mL/kg) was significantly lower in SV vs PSV (P<.005) and SV vs PCV (P<.005). RR was not significantly higher in SV vs PSV (P=.43), but was significantly higher in SV vs PCV (P<.005). Three patients in the SV group and 1 patient in the PSV group failed to initiate SV and required PCV and were thus excluded from analysis. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 modes of ventilation using a PLMA were safe in children younger than 1 year. Although we did not observe a statistically significant increase in etco2, differences in TV and RR, and the small but significant incidence of apnea may make PSV or PCV more optimal ventilation strategies in children younger than 1 year when using a PLMA.

Comparing 3 ventilation modalities by measuring several respiratory parameters using the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine quantitative differences in several routinely measured ventilation parameters using a standardized anesthetic technique and 3 different ventilation modalities in pediatric patients with a ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA). DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. SETTING: Pediatric hospital of a tertiary care academic medical center. PATIENTS: Thirty-three, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification 1-2, pediatric patients (12 months to 5 years). INTERVENTIONS: Three different ventilation strategies: spontaneous ventilation (SV), pressure support ventilation (PSV), and pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) were randomly applied to patients who underwent a standardized mask induction with sevoflurane/oxygen and propofol 3 mg/kg and morphine 0.05 mg/kg administered intravenously followed by PLMA insertion. Patients were maintained on sevoflurane and N2O. MEASUREMENTS: We measured the differences in end-tidal CO2 (Etco2), tidal volume, and respiratory rate over time between SV, PSV, and PCV. These data were recorded at 5-minute intervals. MAIN RESULTS: Etco2 (mm Hg) was significantly higher in the SV vs PSV (P=.016) and vs PCV (P<.001). Tidal volume (mL/kg) was significantly lower in SV vs PSV (P<.001) and vs PCV (P<.001). Respiratory rate (breaths/min) was significantly higher in SV vs PSV (P<.001) and vs PCV (P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: All 3 modes of ventilation using a PLMA were safely used. Our SV group was noted to have a significantly higher Etco2 when compared with PSV and PCV with a mean Etco2 over time in excess of 55 mm Hg. PSV and PCV were found to be more appropriate ventilation strategies to more optimally control Etco2 over time in these patients.

Bending the rules: a novel approach to placement and retrospective experience with the 5 French Arndt endobronchial blocker in children <2 years.

BACKGROUND: One-lung ventilation (OLV) is frequently employed to improve surgical exposure during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy in adults and children. Because of their small size, children under the age of 2 years are not candidates for some of the methods typically used for OLV in adults and older children, such as a double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) tube or intraluminal use of a bronchial blocker. Due to this, the clinician is left with few options. One of the most robust approaches to OLV in infants and small children has been the extraluminal placement of a 5 French (5F) Arndt endobronchial blocker (AEB). AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to examine and describe our experience with placement and management of an extraluminal 5F AEB for thoracic surgery in children <2 years of age. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the anesthetic records for details of AEB placement, arterial blood gas (ABG) data, and intraoperative analgesic prescription in 15 children under the age of 2 years undergoing OLV with a 5F AEB for thoracic surgery at our institution from January 2010 through January 2016. RESULTS: We were able to successfully achieve lung isolation in 14 of 15 patients using a 5F AEB that was bent 35-45° 1.5 cm proximal to the inflatable cuff. In 13 of 15 patients, we were able to place the AEB into final position with the aid of video-assisted fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In two patients, fluoroscopy was required to place the 5F AEB into the left mainstem due to poor visualization of the carina and rapid desaturation during bronchoscopy. In one of these patients, even though the blocker appeared to be correctly placed by fluoroscopy, adequate lung isolation was not observed. Intraoperatively, we observed significant degrees of hypercarbia in most patients without oxygen desaturation. Analgesic regimens lacked consistency and varied among patients. Open thoracotomy procedures tended to receive more aggressive narcotic regimens than video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures. Fourteen of 15 patients were extubated in the immediate postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique of placing a 35-45° bend in the AEB, extraluminal placement, and observed manipulation with a video-assisted flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope (FFB) within the trachea can be used to achieve consistent lung isolation in patients <2 undergoing thoracic surgery. When the use of a FFB proves unsuccessful, fluoroscopy can provide an alternative solution to successful placement. Significant respiratory derangements without long-term sequelae will occur in a majority of these patients during OLV. Several different approaches to intraoperative analgesia did not impede extubation in the early postoperative period.