Pediatric lower respiratory tract infection: Considerations for the anesthesiologist.

Neonatal and childhood infectious diseases continue to be a global health problem. Acute respiratory tract infections are typically classified as upper respiratory tract infection and lower respiratory tract infections. The most common lower respiratory infections in childhood are pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Vaccination against measles, diphtheria, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus, and influenza resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of acute respiratory tract infection globally. Though the global burden of the disease has decreased, the mortality rates still are higher in developing countries. Patients with severe lower respiratory tract infections and their complications are often evaluated for elective or emergency procedures. In this review article, the authors aim to discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, preoperative evaluation of lower respiratory tract infections, and the anesthesia implications pertinent to the practice of anesthesia.

Intensive blood-pressure lowering in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage.

Clinical question Is intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment (systolic BP target 110-139 mm Hg) better than standard antihypertensive treatment (systolic BP target 140-179 mm Hg) in reducing mortality and disability in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)? Article chosen Qureshi AI, Palesch YY, Barsan WG, et al. Intensive blood-pressure lowering in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. N Engl J Med 2016;375(11):1033-43. OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic benefit of intensive BP treatment compared to standard BP treatment in reducing death and disability after 3 months of follow-up among patients with ICH treated within 4.5 hours from onset of symptoms.