Unanticipated difficult airway management in children - the consensus statement of the Paediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Section and the Airway Management Section of the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy and the Polish So.

Tracheal intubation may be defined as an artificial airway established in order to provide mechanical ventilation of the lungs during surgical procedures under general anaesthesia, treatment in an intensive care unit, as well as in emergency situations. Difficulties encountered during intubation may cause hypoxia, hypoxic brain injury and, in extreme situations, may result in the patient's death. There may be unanticipated and anticipated difficult airway. Children form a specific group of patients as there are significant differences in both anatomy and physiology. There are some limitations in equipment used for the airway management in children. There are only few paediatric difficult airway guidelines available, some of which have significant limitations. The presented algorithm was created by a group of specialists who represent the Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, as well as the Polish Neonatology Society. This algorithm is intended for the unanticipated difficult airway in children and can be used in all age groups. It covers both elective intubation, as well as rescue techniques. A guide forms an integral part of the algorithm. It describes in detail all stages of the algorithm considering some modifications in a specific age group, e.g. neonates. The main aim of Stage I is to optimise conditions for face mask ventilation, laryngoscopy and intubation. Stage IIA focuses on maximising the chances of successful intubation when face mask ventilation is possible. Stage IIB outlines actions aimed at improving face mask ventilation. Stage IIIA describes the use of a SAD (Supraglottic Airway Device) during effective face mask ventilation or in a CICV (Cannot Intubate, Cannot Ventilate) situation. Stage IIIB outlines intubation through a SAD. Stage IV describes rescue techniques and outlines possible options of either proceeding with surgery or postponing it, depending on clinical situation.

Thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). METHODS: From August 2005 to March 2008, 23 consecutive patients (16 boys, 7 girls) weighing 1,070 to 3,390 g underwent thoracoscopic EA/TEF repair. Nine cases had associated malformations. Two 5-mm and one 2.5-mm trocars were placed. The 5-mm 25- to 30-degree telescope was preferred. A pneumothorax was maintained with 5 to 6 mm Hg. The azygos vein was never divided. The TEF was closed with 5-mm titanic clips mainly.The esophageal anastomosis was made over 6-French nasogastric tube by three to seven simple stitches of 5-0Vicryl. The 8-French chest tube was left without suction. The enteral feeding was usually started on postoperative day 3 or 4. Barium swallow was performed on postoperative day 5 or 6, then the chest tube was removed. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed without conversion. The average operative time was 131 minutes (range, 55-245 minutes) with significant improvement after gaining experience (mean, 171 minutes for first 10 cases and 98 minutes for last 13 cases). There were two cases of accidental tracheal opening. The anastomotic leak rate was 13% (three cases), and all were healed on conservative treatment. Four cases required one to three courses of anastomotic stricture dilatations. There were three deaths (13%) of causes not related with performed operation. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracoscopic repair of EA/TEF is effective method, and based on our experience, it is the procedure of choice if performed by an experienced endoscopic pediatric surgeon. The intraoperative complications observed if properly managed have a good prognosis.