Update on complications in pediatric anesthesia

• Main Authors: Giovanni de Francisci, Angela Elisa Papasidero, Giorgia Spinazzola, Dario Galante, Marco Caruselli, Dino Pedrotti, Antonio Caso, Massimo Lambo, Matteo Melchionda, Maria Grazia Faticato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-02-01
• Series: Pediatric Reports
• Subjects: pediatric anesthesia, complications, anesthetic drugs, preanesthetic evaluation
• Online Access: http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/pr/article/view/4556

Complications in pediatric anesthesia can happen, even in our modern hospitals with the most advanced equipment and skilled anesthesiologists. It is important, albeit in a tranquil and reassuring way, to inform parents of the possibility of complications and, in general, of the anesthetic risks. This is especially imperative when speaking to the parents of children who will be operated on for minor procedures: in our experience, they tend to think that the anesthesia will be a <em>light anesthesia</em> without risks. Often the surgeons tell them that the operation is very simple without stressing the fact that it will be done under general anesthesia which is identical to the one we give for major operations. Different is the scenario for the parents of children who are affected by malignant neoplasms: in these cases they already know that the illness is serious. They have this tremendous burden and we choose not to add another one by discussing anesthetic risks, so we usually go along with the examination of the child without bringing up the possibility of complications, unless there is some specific problem such as a mediastinal mass.