Intraoperative fluid administration volumes during pediatric liver transplantation and postoperative outcomes: A multicenter analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Fluid administration is an important aspect of the management of children undergoing liver transplantation and may impact postoperative outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the association between volume of intraoperative fluid administration and our primary outcome, the duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation following pediatric liver transplantation. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit length of stay and hospital length of stay. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using electronic data from three major pediatric liver transplant centers. Intraoperative fluid administration was indexed to weight and duration of anesthesia. Univariate and stepwise linear regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Among 286 successful pediatric liver transplants, the median duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation was 10.8 h (IQR 0.0, 35.4), the median intensive care unit length of stay was 4.3 days (IQR 2.7, 6.8), and the median hospital length of stay was 13.6 days (9.8, 21.1). Univariate linear regression showed a weak correlation between intraoperative fluids and duration of ventilation (r2 = .037, p = .001). Following stepwise linear regression, intraoperative fluid administration remained weakly correlated (r2 = .161, p = .04) with duration of postoperative ventilation. The following variables were also independently correlated with duration of ventilation: center (Riley Children's Health versus Children's Health Dallas, p = .001), and open abdominal incision after transplant (p = .001). DISCUSSION: The amount of intraoperative fluid administration is correlated with duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation in children undergoing liver transplantation, however, it does not seem to be a strong factor. CONCLUSIONS: Other modifiable factors should be sought which may lead to improved postoperative outcomes in this highly vulnerable patient population.

Anesthetic Complications Associated With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with high perioperative morbidity and mortality among adults. The incidence and severity of anesthetic complications in children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We hypothesized that there would be an increased incidence of intra- and postoperative complications in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection as compared to those with negative testing. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study analyzing complications for children <18 years of age who underwent anesthesia between April 28 and September 30, 2020 at a large, academic pediatric hospital. Each child with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test within the prior 10 days was matched to a patient with a negative SARS-CoV-2 test based on American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, age, gender, and procedure. Children who were intubated before the procedure, underwent organ transplant surgery, or had severe COVID-19 were excluded. The primary outcome was the risk difference of a composite of intra- or postoperative respiratory complications in children positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared to those with negative testing. Secondarily, we used logistic regression to determine the odds ratio for respiratory complications before and after adjustment using propensity scores weighting to adjust for possible confounders. Other secondary outcomes included neurologic, cardiovascular, hematologic, and renal complications, unanticipated postoperative admission to the intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, and mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 9812 general anesthetics that had a preoperative SARS-CoV-2 test were identified. Sixty encounters occurred in patients who had positive SARS-CoV-2 testing preoperatively and 51 were included for analysis. The matched controls cohort included 99 encounters. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test was associated with a higher incidence of respiratory complications (11.8% vs 1.0%; risk difference 10.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-19.8; P = .003). After adjustment, the odds ratio for respiratory complications was 14.37 (95% CI, 1.59-130.39; P = .02) for SARS-CoV-2-positive children as compared to controls. There was no occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome, postoperative pneumonia, or perioperative mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with nonsevere SARS-CoV-2 infection had higher rates of perianesthetic respiratory complications than matched controls with negative testing. However, severe morbidity was rare and there were no mortalities. The incidence of complications was similar to previously published rates of perianesthetic complications in the setting of an upper respiratory tract infection. This risk persisted after adjustment for preoperative upper respiratory symptoms, suggesting an increased risk in symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Use of dexmedetomidine and opioids as the primary anesthetic in infants and young children: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Anesthetic regimens using dexmedetomidine and short-acting opioids have been suggested as potential alternatives to sevoflurane-based anesthesia in children. The primary aim of this study is to compare demographics, intraoperative characteristics, and complications of general anesthetics in which dexmedetomidine and opioids were used without sevoflurane, or in combination with a low sevoflurane concentration, in children 36 months old and younger. The secondary aim is to evaluate intraoperative bispectral index (BIS) values when available in these patients. METHODS: General anesthetics performed between January 1, 2017, and May 1, 2018, in children 2 years and younger who received dexmedetomidine and remifentanil, with or without sevoflurane, were identified. Additional anesthetics performed during this time in children 36 months and younger who received dexmedetomidine and opioids and had BIS monitoring were also identified. Charts were reviewed for demographic and intraoperative variables, including drug administration and hemodynamic data. RESULTS: A total of 244 patients were identified. All but 22 patients received remifentanil. Ninety-two patients received sevoflurane with a mean end-tidal concentration of 0.84% (SD 0.43). Compared to the sevoflurane group, the nonsevoflurane group received more remifentanil (median dose 0.4 µg/kg/min vs 0.2 µg/kg/min, difference of 0.1 µg/kg/min, 95% CI 0.1-0.3, P < .001) and more dexmedetomidine (median dose 0.9 µg/kg/h vs 0.3 µg/kg/h, difference of 0.6 µg/kg/h, 95% CI 0.4-0.8, P < .001), and had a higher mean arterial pressure (median 53 mm Hg vs 42 mm Hg, difference of 11 mm Hg, 95% CI 8.1-14.8, P < .001). Complications between the two groups were comparable. The median percent intraoperative time with BIS reading <60 was 71.6% (95% CI: 63.3%-79.8%). CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine and opioids can effectively be used in young children as an alternative total intravenous anesthesia technique with or without <1 minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane. Bispectral index monitoring reveals a likely sufficient depth of hypnosis.

An open label pilot study of a dexmedetomidine-remifentanil-caudal anesthetic for infant lower abdominal/lower extremity surgery: The T REX pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Concern over potential neurotoxicity of anesthetics has led to growing interest in prospective clinical trials using potentially less toxic anesthetic regimens, especially for prolonged anesthesia in infants. Preclinical studies suggest that dexmedetomidine may have a reduced neurotoxic profile compared to other conventional anesthetic regimens; however, coadministration with either anesthetic drugs (eg, remifentanil) and/or regional blockade is required to achieve adequate anesthesia for surgery. The feasibility of this pharmacological approach is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a remifentanil/dexmedetomidine/neuraxial block technique in infants scheduled for surgery lasting longer than 2 hours. METHODS: Sixty infants (age 1-12 months) were enrolled at seven centers over 18 months. A caudal local anesthetic block was placed after induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane. Next, an infusion of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil commenced, and the sevoflurane was discontinued. Three different protocols with escalating doses of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil were used. RESULTS: One infant was excluded due to a protocol violation and consent was withdrawn prior to anesthesia in another. The caudal block was unsuccessful in two infants. Of the 56 infants who completed the protocol, 45 (80%) had at least one episode of hypertension (mean arterial pressure >80 mm Hg) and/or movement that required adjusting the anesthesia regimen. In the majority of these cases, the remifentanil and/or dexmedetomidine doses were increased although six infants required rescue 0.3% sevoflurane and one required a propofol bolus. Ten infants had at least one episode of mild hypotension (mean arterial pressure 40-50 mm Hg) and four had at least one episode of moderate hypotension (mean arterial pressure <40 mm Hg). CONCLUSION: A dexmedetomidine/remifentanil neuraxial anesthetic regimen was effective in 87.5% of infants. These findings can be used as a foundation for designing larger trials that assess alternative anesthetic regimens for anesthetic neurotoxicity in infants.

Association between preoperative respiratory symptoms and perioperative respiratory adverse events in pediatric patients with positive viral testing.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the presence of upper respiratory tract viral infection symptoms and occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAE) in children with positive viral screening, and to analyze the risk of PRAE in children with SARS-CoV-2 compared to non-SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary, freestanding pediatric hospital in Dallas, Texas. PATIENTS: Children <18 years of age with positive respiratory viral testing who underwent general anesthesia. INTERVENTION: Measurement of incidence of PRAE and severe adverse events during the first 7 postoperative days. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was a composite of PRAE: oxygen saturation < 90% for >5 min, supplemental oxygen for >2 h after anesthesia, laryngospasm, and bronchospasm. The secondary outcome was severe adverse events: high flow nasal cannula >6 l of oxygen per minute, admission to the ICU for escalation of respiratory support post-anesthetic, acute respiratory distress syndrome, postoperative pneumonia, cardiovascular arrest, extracorporeal life support, and death. MAIN RESULTS: In this convenience sample of 196 children, 83 were symptomatic and 113 were asymptomatic. The risk of PRAE was similar in children with active viral symptoms and asymptomatic children (risk difference: -1.9%; 95% CI: -10.9, 7.9%), but higher among children with documented fever within 48 h of the anesthetic (risk difference: 20.8%; 95% CI: 5.3, 39.7%). The multivariable adjusted odds ratio of PRAE was 0.68 (95% CI: 0.25, 1.85) for symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients, and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.14, 1.44) for patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to non-SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the incidence of PRAE between symptomatic and asymptomatic children with laboratory confirmed viral respiratory infection, and between children with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 compared to non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses. However, the risk was increased in children with recent fever.

Management of the Normal and Difficult Pediatric Airway: Unique Challenges in the Time of COVID-19.

Purpose of Review: This review focuses on the challenges faced by acute care healthcare workers in the management of the normal and difficult pediatric airway during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these protocols and practices evolved during the pandemic. The current state of knowledge on timing of surgery and anesthesia is also discussed. Recent Findings: In the early days of the pandemic, information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and disease process was scarce. Governmental, healthcare, and professional organizations created several guidelines to protect invaluable healthcare workers from the contagious virus while also delivering appropriate care to children with COVID-19. With the emergence of new studies and the deployment of new life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and other therapies, these guidelines evolved. The use of aerosol containment devices such as aerosol boxes and flexible barrier techniques was found to be ineffective in reliably containing virus particles while posing potential harm to both healthcare workers and patients. Also, the definition of aerosol-generating and dispersing medical procedures was vastly broadened. To date, use of appropriate personal protection equipment and COVID-19 vaccination are the most effective ways to protect healthcare workers and safely manage children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who require airway intervention. Summary: Evidence-based public health measures and appropriate personal protective equipment remain the best way to protect both healthcare workers and patients. As the virus and population evolve and COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available, clinicians must be willing to adapt to the emerging evidence of their impact on how safe pediatric perioperative care is delivered.

Changes in the Nociception Level Index During Surgical Resection of Paragangliomas: A Case Report.

Nociception is the detection of noxious stimulation by the nervous system. The PMD-200 monitor is a validated, emerging technology for intraoperative monitoring using the nociception level (NOL) index. We describe a pediatric case of an open resection of paraganglionic masses during which episodic increases in NOL index and blood pressure coincided with tumor manipulation, presumably due to a catecholamine surge. Since the patient was under stable and adequate analgesia, the increases in NOL index likely reflected the physiologic effects of tumor handling rather that the presence of a true noxious stimulus. Clinicians should consider this limitation when using this monitor.

Anesthetic Management of Children With Propionic Acidemia Undergoing Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Propionic acidemia is a rare genetic disorder of metabolism that predisposes patients to metabolic acidosis, lethargy, neurologic dysfunction, developmental delays, and cardiomyopathy. Perioperative anesthetic management is guided toward mitigating the effects of preoperative fasting times, maintaining normovolemia, and preventing cardiovascular complications secondary to underlying cardiomyopathy. Commonly used anesthetic agents may have undesirable side effects in these patients. Propofol, the lactate in Lactated Ringer's, and neuromuscular blocking agents that undergo ester hydrolysis are poorly metabolized and can lead to metabolic acidosis. Opioids, such as fentanyl and morphine, should be used judiciously in patients with coexisting developmental delays to avoid oversedation and delayed time to resuming oral intake postanesthesia. In addition, inhaled anesthetics have direct myocardial depressive effects and can compromise cardiac function in the setting of pre-existing cardiomyopathy. The perioperative period represents a critical time in this population and appropriate planning is crucial to prevent perioperative morbidity. We present a case of an eight-year-old child undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy under general anesthesia and describe the anesthetic concerns we addressed to provide a safe perioperative course.

Endotracheal Intubation Using Alfentanil in a Pediatric Patient with a Mitochondrial Myopathy and Gastroparesis.

Children with mitochondrial disorders represent a subset of patients who require unique anesthetic considerations. Routinely administered medications for general anesthesia, such as propofol, have been shown to increase the risk of developing metabolic acidosis. In addition, both depolarizing and nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers are contraindicated due to the risk of hyperkalemic cardiac arrest and worsening of preexisting muscle weakness, respectively. These limitations pose challenges while choosing appropriate medications for induction of general anesthesia, especially when the risk of aspiration is high. We present a novel case of using inhaled sevoflurane and intravenous alfentanil to facilitate intubation in a 4-year-old girl with a complex 1 mitochondrial disorder suffering from severe gastroparesis and esophageal dysmotility.

Aortopexy Complicated by ST Segment Elevations in a Four-Month-Old Infant.

A four-month-old female infant presented for a thoracoscopic aortopexy for severe tracheomalacia. The case proceeded uneventfully until a specimen bag was introduced into the chest to remove the thymus. The child developed significant ST segment elevations in all 12 leads on electrocardiogram. An emergent intraoperative echocardiogram was performed but did not reveal any findings to account for the diffuse ST segment elevations. The ST segment elevations remained elevated for 48 hours following the procedure with no apparent hemodynamic instability or structural damage to the heart. Troponin levels returned to normal a few days later, and the child was discharged home without sequelae. The incidence of ST segment elevations in children without congenital heart disease is rare but can potentially lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This case report seeks to highlight the importance of swift recognition of ST changes in the pediatric population, discuss possible causes, and describe appropriate workup.