Pediatric anesthesia in Mongolia and Thailand.

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY: In Mongolia, pediatric anesthesia has advanced during the past 25 years through expanded, standardized education programs and international collaboration. Pediatric anesthesia is a recognized specialty, covering all surgical services, including cardiac and transplant, using physicians and nurses. TRAINING: The pediatric anesthesia fellowship is 6 months after 2 years of residency; pediatric nurse anesthesia training is 6 months. CONCLUSION: As a Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) with low population density and extreme weather, the challenges include insufficient equipment, supplies, and clinician numbers, matching few clinicians to many varied patient locations, and covering surgical emergencies over distance and weather. In Thailand, education and training in pediatric anesthesia remain a focus: Pediatric anesthesia is an official subspecialty, the fellowship is accredited, using a competency-based curriculum with milestones of Direct Observation of Procedural Skills and Entrusted Professional Activities. The Bangkok Anesthesia Regional Training Center (BARTC)-Pediatrics, jointly sponsored by the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists (WFSA) and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA), have expanded training to anesthesiologists worldwide. Challenges include difficulty balancing service workload and education, as well as attracting pediatric anesthesia fellows due to the strong private sector job market.

The incidence and risk factors of apnea in premature infants underwent general anesthesia for cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative apnea in premature infants who received general anesthesia for cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was performed by reviewing medical records of premature infants with ROP who underwent general anesthesia for cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation during January 2008 and December 2010 at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. The incidence and risk factors of postoperative apnea were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty of 167 (24%) premature infants had apnea after general anesthesia for treatment of ROP. The risk factors were post-conceptual age and history of apnea. The risk of apnea in patients with post-conceptual age less than 35 weeks was 5.7 times higher than in patients with post-conceptual age more than 37 weeks (95% CI 1.59-20.45). Patients with a prior history of apnea had a 6.42 times greater risk of postoperative apnea compared to patients without a prior history of apnea (95% CI 2.01-20.50). No other serious complications were reported during the study period. CONCLUSION: The incidence of apnea after general anesthesia in infants with ROP treated with cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation was 24%. The risk factors of postoperative apnea were post-conceptual age less than 35 weeks and prior history of apnea. Patients with risk factors should be closely monitored.

Thailand's experience in Advance Care Planning.

In 2007, Thailand enacted the National Health Act, which contains the Advance Directive (Section 12). Even though the Act was enacted nearly sixteen years ago, physicians have not fully adopted it, limiting the number of patients who can benefit from the Advance Directive. Thai culture values the role of extended family in end-of-life planning, which is frequently marked by a conspiracy of silence (inability to discuss end-of-life issues), so patients may have limited opportunities to participate in decision-making and care planning. Thailand introduced a Palliative Care Policy in 2014. The inclusion of palliative care in the health service plan is the most crucial factor for palliative care provision. Through health inspections, the Ministry of Public Health supervises, monitors, and evaluates the management of the National Palliative Care Program. Advance Care Planning (ACP) and three other major KPIs were to be included in health inspections by 2020. In 2021, the Office of the National Health Commission implemented ACP, including the formation of (a) a committee to create a national ACP form and standard operating procedures and (b) a steering committee to oversee the nationwide implementation of ACP.

National survey of pediatric anesthesia practice in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: To assess current pediatric anesthesia practice for further education from Royal College of Anesthesiologists of Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to 500 anesthetists in public hospitals in January 2010 to investigate preoperative data, intraoperative data, postoperative pain management, ambulatory anesthesia, and pediatric anesthesia training requirement. RESULTS: Response rate was 30.6%. Preoperative fasting and infective endocarditis (IE) prophylaxis were appropriate except that half the anesthesiologists preferred giving antibiotics in non-cyanotic heart diseases and ordering complete blood count as a routine investigation in healthy patients undergoing minor surgery. Premedication was preferred in children and adolescents. Parental presence during induction was most often selected in children (74.5%). Modified Ayre T-piece was the most popular breathing circuit used during induction while circle circuit was more likely used during maintenance period. Manual ventilation was preferred in neonates. Scavenging system was rarely used Intraoperative fluid was given based on Holliday & Segar Law (> 90%). Isotonic fluid without glucose was preferred for replacement of third space loss and hypotonic fluid with glucose was preferred for maintenance fluid. Transfusion trigger was inversely correlated with age. Postoperative pain scales were more often used in children and adolescents. Fentanyl was more popular in younger age group. Intermittent intravenous administration was the most preferred route. Age group of infants and older were predominantly accepted to be anaesthetized on an ambulatory basis. Pediatric advanced life support was seldom performed. Intermittent training was more popular than certified fellowship training. CONCLUSION: Routine investigation in healthy patients, IE prophylaxis in non-cyanotic patients, intraoperative fluid replacement, and pediatric advanced life support and postoperative pain management were the issues recommended for further education.

Baby EAR circuit: a clinical determination of optimal fresh gas flow in spontaneous breathing anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Baby EAR circuit is a new modified enclosed afferent reservoir anesthetic breathing system invented to use in pediatric patients. By following His Majesty the King of Thailand's self-sufficiency philosophy, the circuit is simplymade of low-cost and easy-to-find materials in the operating room. OBJECTIVE: Investigate clinical use of the circuit and to find the optimal fresh gas flow in spontaneous breathing anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective descriptive study was conducted in pediatric patients, who weighed 5-20 kg, anesthetized for surgery and divided into three groups of body weight: groups I (5 - <10 kg), groups II (10 - <15 kg), groups III (15-20 kg). The Baby EAR circuit was used for general anesthesia with endotracheal tube and spontaneous breathing. Different fresh gas flow of 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, and 1.5 liter per minute (LPM) was used consecutively The authors recorded end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO) and mean inspiratory carbon dioxide (ImCO2) while using fresh gas flow at 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, and 1.5 LPM. EtCO2 of 35-60 mmHg and ImCO2 of <6 mmHg were considered clinically acceptable. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in the present study Mean value (95% CI) of EtCO2, ImCO2 and fresh gas flow rate in group I were 42 +/- 3.2 (39.8, 44.2), 3 +/- 1.2 (2.2, 3.8) mmHg, and 1.7 +/- 0.6 (1.2, 2.1) LPM respectively. Mean value (95% CI) of EtCO2 ImCO2 and fresh gas flow rate in group II were 50 +/- 5.6 (47.2, 52.8), 3 +/- 0.9 (2.6, 3.4) mmHg, 2 +/- 0.4 (1.8, 2.2) LPM respectively. Mean value (95% CI) EtCO, ImCO2 and fresh gas flow rate in group III were 51 +/- 7.2 (46.7, 55.3), 2 +/- 1 (1.4, 2.6) mmHg, and 2 +/- 0.3 (1.8, 2.2) LPM respectively. No patients had serious complications in the present study. CONCLUSION: Baby EAR circuit can be made economically and used safelyfor general anesthesia with spontaneous breathing in pediatric patients who weighed 5-20 kg at optimal fresh gas flow rate of > or = 2.5 LPM

A clinical determination of optimal fresh gas flow in a baby EAR circuit.

OBJECTIVE: Baby EAR circuit is a new modified enclosed afferent reservoir anesthetic breathing system for pediatric patients. By following His Majesty the King of Thailand's self-sufficiency philosophy, the circuit is simple and made of low-cost and easy-to-find materials found in the operating room. This present study was to investigate clinical use of the circuit and to find the optimal fresh gas flow in clinical setting. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective descriptive study was conducted in pediatric patients, weighed 5-20 kg, anesthetized for surgery. The Baby EAR breathing circuit was used for general anesthesia with endotracheal tube and control ventilation. Different fresh gas flow of 3, 2.5, 2 and 1.5 liter per minute (LPM) was used consecutively. The authors recorded end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) and mean inspiratory carbon dioxide (ImCO2) while using fresh gas flow at 3, 2.5, 2, and 1.5 LPM. EtCO2 of 35-45 mmHg and ImCO2 of < 6 mmHg were considered clinically acceptable. RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled. Mean value (95% CI) of EtCO2 at fresh gas flow rate of 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 LPM were 39.6 (39.2, 40.9), 36.7 (35.5, 37.8), 35.4 (34.3, 36.4), and 35.4 (34.3, 36.4) mmHg respectively. Mean value (95% CI) of ImCO2 at fresh gas flow rate of 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 LPM were 4.0 (3.0, 4.9), 2.4 (1.7, 3.0), 1.8 (0.9, 2.6), and 1.3 (0.9, 1.7) mmHg respectively. Percentage of patients (95% CI) who had clinically acceptable EtCO2 and ImCO2 at fresh gas flow rate of 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 LPM were 70% (56.2, 80.9), 92% (81.2, 96.8), 98% (89.5, 99.6), and 100% (92.9, 100) respectively. No patients had serious complications. CONCLUSION: Baby EAR circuit can be made economically and used safely for general anesthesia with control ventilation in pediatric patients weighing 5 to 20 kg at optimal fresh gas flow of 3 LPM.