"Loss of breath" as a cause of postoperative hypoxia and bradycardia in children submitted to tonsillectomy / "Perda de fôlego" como causa de hipóxia e bradicardia pós-operatória em criança submetida à amigdalectomia

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: the "shortness of breath" or "breathing interruption" crisis can be considered a cause of hypoxia in childhood. It is characterized by the presence of a triggering factor followed by weeping and apnea in expiration accompanied by cyanosis or pallor. The sequence of events may include bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural tone and even asystole. A review of the literature revealed only two reports of postoperative apnea caused by "shortness of breath".CASE REPORT: this article describes the case of a child with a history of "shortness of breath" undiagnosed before the adenotonsillectomy, but that represented the cause of episodes of hypoxemia and bradycardia in the postoperative period.CONCLUSIONS: the "shortness of breath" crisis should be considered as a possible cause of perioperative hypoxia in children, especially when there is a history suggestive of this problem. As some events may be accompanied by bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural tone and even asystole, observation in a hospital setting should be considered.

RESUMOJUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A crise de "perda de fôlego" ou de "interrupção respiratória" pode ser considerada uma causa de hipóxia na infância. É caracteriza pela presença de um fator desencadeante seguido por choro e apneia em expiração acompanhada de cianose ou palidez cutânea. A sequência de eventos pode incluir bradicardia, perda da consciência, alteração do tônus postural e até assistolia. Uma revisão da literatura evidenciou apenas dois relatos de apneia pós-operatória causada por "perda de fôlego".RELATO DO CASO: O presente artigo descreve um caso de criança com antecedente de crises de "perda de fôlego" não diagnosticadas antes da feitura de adenoamigdalectomia, mas que representaram a causa de episódios de hipoxemia e bradicardia no período pós-operatório.CONCLUSÕES: As crises de "perda de fôlego" devem ser consideradas como possível causa de hipóxia perioperatória em crianças, principalmente quando há história prévia sugestiva. Como alguns eventos podem ser acompanhados de bradicardia, perda da consciência, alteração do tônus postural e até assistolia, a observação em ambiente hospitalar deve ser considerada.

["Loss of breath" as a cause of postoperative hypoxia and bradycardia in children submitted to tonsillectomy]. / "Perda de fôlego" como causa de hipóxia e bradicardia pós-operatória em criança submetida à amigdalectomia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The "shortness of breath" or "breathing interruption" crisis can be considered a cause of hypoxia in childhood. It is characterized by the presence of a triggering factor followed by weeping and apnea in expiration accompanied by cyanosis or pallor. The sequence of events may include bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural toneand even asystole. A review of the literature revealed only two reports of postoperative apneacaused by "shortness of breath". CASE REPORT: This article describes the case of a child with a history of "shortness of breath" undiagnosed before the adenotonsillectomy, but that represented the cause of episodes of hypoxemia and bradycardia in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: the "shortness of breath" crisis should be considered as a possible cause of perioperative hypoxia in children, especially when there is a history suggestive of this problem. As some events may be accompanied by bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural tone and even asystole, observation in a hospital setting should be considered.

"Loss of breath" as a cause of postoperative hypoxia and bradycardia in children submitted to tonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: the "shortness of breath" or "breathing interruption" crisis can be considered a cause of hypoxia in childhood. It is characterized by the presence of a triggering factor followed by weeping and apnea in expiration accompanied by cyanosis or pallor. The sequence of events may include bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural tone and even asystole. A review of the literature revealed only two reports of postoperative apnea caused by "shortness of breath". CASE REPORT: this article describes the case of a child with a history of "shortness of breath" undiagnosed before the adenotonsillectomy, but that represented the cause of episodes of hypoxemia and bradycardia in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: the "shortness of breath" crisis should be considered as a possible cause of perioperative hypoxia in children, especially when there is a history suggestive of this problem. As some events may be accompanied by bradycardia, loss of consciousness, abnormal postural tone and even asystole, observation in a hospital setting should be considered.