Pediatric robotic surgery: issues in management-expert consensus from the Italian Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SARNePI) and the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP).

BACKGROUND: Pediatric robotic-assisted surgeries have increased in recent years; however, guidance documents are still lacking. This study aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations, or best practice statements when evidence is lacking or inadequate, to assist surgical teams internationally. METHODS: A joint consensus taskforce of anesthesiologists and surgeons from the Italian Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SARNePI) and the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP) have identified critical areas and reviewed the available evidence. The taskforce comprised 21 experts representing the fields of anesthesia (n = 11) and surgery (n = 10) from clinical centers performing pediatric robotic surgery in the Italian cities of Ancona, Bologna, Milan, Naples, Padua, Pavia, Perugia, Rome, Siena, and Verona. Between December 2020 and September 2021, three meetings, two Delphi rounds, and a final consensus conference took place. RESULTS: During the first planning meeting, the panel agreed on the specific objectives, the definitions to apply, and precise methodology. The project was structured into three subtopics: (i) preoperative patient assessment and preparation; (ii) intraoperative management (surgical and anesthesiologic); and (iii) postoperative procedures. Within these phases, the panel agreed to address a total of 18 relevant areas, which spanned preoperative patient assessment and patient selection, anesthesiology, critical care medicine, respiratory care, prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and pain management. CONCLUSION: Collaboration among surgeons and anesthesiologists will be increasingly important for achieving safe and effective RAS procedures. These recommendations will provide a review for those who already have relevant experience and should be particularly useful for those starting a new program.

Anesthesiological risks in mucopolysaccharidoses.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidosis are among the most complex from the anesthesiological point of view, especially regarding the management of the airway. The evidence base for anesthesia management is often limited to case reports and small case series. AIMS: To identify useful information about experience with each subtype of mucopolysaccharidosis reported in the literature and propose a guide on the best options for airway management to the anesthesiologists who take care of these patients. METHODS: A query of the PubMed database specific for "anesthesia" and "mucopolysaccharidosis" and a further query specific for "mucopolysaccharidosis and difficult airway management" was conducted. We looked for those items that offered practical guidance to anesthesiological management. We did not exclude case reports, especially those that reported a specific technique, because of their practical suggestions. RESULTS: We identified 15 reviews, 17 retrospective case series, 5 prospective studies, and 28 case reports that focused on airway managements in anesthesia or had practical suggestions for preoperative evaluation and risk assessment. An accurate preoperative evaluation and the need for an experienced team are emphasized in all the reviewed articles and for each type of mucopolysaccharidosis. Many suggestions on how to plan the perioperative period have been highlighted. Insertion of a laryngeal mask airway generally improves ventilation and facilitates intubation with a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Furthermore, the videolaryngoscope is very useful in making intubation easier and facilitating bronchoscope passage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mucopolysaccharidosis are at high risk for anesthesia-related complications and require a high level of attention. However, a multidisciplinary approach, combined with expertise in the use of new techniques and new devices for airway management, makes anesthesiological management safer. Further research with prospective studies would be useful.

Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy in children.

The authors report their experience in laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias in children. From May 2010 to November 2013, 122 patients with inguinal hernia underwent laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (92 males and 30 females). Telescope used was 5 mm, while trocars for the operative instruments were 3 or 2 mm. After introducing the camera at the umbilical level and trocars in triangulation, a 4-0 nonabsorbable monofilament suture was inserted directly through the abdominal wall. The internal inguinal ring was then closed by N or double N suture. All operations were performed in one-day surgery setting. In the case of association of inguinal and umbilical hernia an original technique was performed for positioning and fixing the umbilical trocar and for the primary closure of the abdominal wall defect. The postoperative follow-up consisted of outpatient visits at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months. The mean age of patients was 38.5 months. Of all patients, 26 were also suffering from umbilical hernia (19 males and 7 females). A total of 160 herniorrhaphies were performed; 84 were unilateral (66 inguinal hernia, 18 inguinal hernia associated with umbilical hernia), 38 bilateral (30 inguinal hernia, 8 inguinal hernia associated with umbilical hernia). Nine of 122 patients (6 males and 3 females) were operated in emergency for incarcerated hernia. A pre-operative diagnosis of unilateral inguinal hernia was performed in 106 cases. Of these patients, laparoscopy revealed a controlateral open internal inguinal ring in 22 cases (20.7%). The mean operative time was 29.9±15.9 min for the monolateral herniorrhaphies, while in case of bilateral repair the mean operative time was 41.5±10.4 min. The mean operative time for the repair of unilateral inguinal hernia associated with umbilical hernia was 30.1±7.4 while for the correction of bilateral inguinal hernia associated with umbilical hernia 39.5±10.6 min. There were 3 recurrences (1.8%): 2 cases in unilateral repair and 1 case a unilateral recurrence in a bilateral repair. No other complications were seen. Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia in children performed in this experience resulted a safe and effective procedure.

Absidia Corymbifera in an immune competent accident victim with multiple abdominal injuries: case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of mucormycosis in a healthy 17-year-old accident victim with multiple abdominal injuries which was caused by infection with Absidia Corymbifera, a ubiquitous saphrophyte in the ground. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was admitted to hospital with massive abdominal trauma. During an 8-hour emergency operation he received transfusions of compacted red blood cells, plasma, platelets and hemagel. He developed a crush syndrome with acute renal failure, resolved with extra-corporeal dialysis and had to undergo splenectomy because of spleen hematoma. As wound secretion and central venous catheter (CVC) blood cultures and drainage fluid were positive for Enterococcus Faecium, Providentia Rettgeri, Hafnia Alvei and Candida Albicans, tecoplanin, metronidazole, imipenem, and flucanozole were administered. Although the CVC was changed high fever persisted and discharge continued from the large abdominal wound. Repeated tampons in different sections and wound secretion smears were positive for A. corymbifera. Flucanozole was stopped and liposomal amphotericin (Ambisome; 5 mg/Kg i.v.) given for over 3 months. The patient improved; fever gradually disappeared. After 8 days, tampons and wound secretion smears were negative for A. corymbifera. No other fungal infections developed. Drainage fluid was later positive for tecoplanin-resistant E. faecium and Pseudomonas Aeroginosa responding only to meropenem and ciprofloxacin. Abdominal computerized tomography visualized fluid accumulation around the iliac-femoral bypass. Abcess was ruled out when scintigraphy showed no tracer uptake. The lesion was drained. Drainage fluid cultures were negative for bacteria and fungi. Fluid accumulation gradually disappeared with prolonged antibiotic and antifungal therapy. One year after the accident the patient is in good health, with normal quality of life. CONCLUSION: Successful outcome was due to early, specific antifungal therapy, at sufficiently high dosage which was prolonged for an adequate period of time. Early diagnosis of mucormycosis is essential for efficacious anti-fungal treatment and prevention of irreversible spread of mucormycosis to vital organs. It presupposes awareness that A. corymbifera infection can develop in healthy individuals who are stressed and traumatized through skin-ground contact in accidents.

Clonidine treatment for agitation in children after sevoflurane anesthesia.

Clonidine is effective in treating sevoflurane-induced postanesthesia agitation in children. We conducted a study on 169 children to quantify the risk reduction of clonidine agitation in patients admitted to our day-surgery pediatric clinic. Children were randomly allocated to receive clonidine 2 mug/kg or placebo before general anesthesia with sevoflurane that was also supplemented with a regional or central block. An observer blinded to the anesthetic technique assessed recovery variables and the presence of agitation. Pain and discomfort scores were significantly decreased in the clonidine group; the incidence of agitation was reduced by 57% (P = 0.029) and the incidence of severe agitation by 67% (P = 0.064). Relative risks for developing agitation and severe agitation were 0.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.78) and 0.32 (0.09-1.17), respectively. Clonidine produces a substantial reduction in the risk of postsevoflurane agitation in children.