First anesthesia exposure effects on short-term neurocognitive function among 1- to 36-month-old children: a case-control pilot study.

Background: Multiple human studies have shown no significant long-term results of anesthesia exposure during early childhood compared to the general population; however, reports on short-term neurodevelopmental assessment before and after anesthesia exposure are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term characteristics of neurocognitive function post-anesthesia in noncardiac surgery compared with baseline. Methods: This prospective case-control pilot study recruited healthy participants in the control group and hospitalized children in the anesthesia group. Children aged 1-36 months without previous anesthesia were included. Neurocognitive function was assessed at baseline and seven days after anesthesia administration using a cognitive scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition. The control group received only a baseline assessment. The cognitive composite score had a mean of 100 and a standard deviation (SD) of 15, with a difference of score >1/3 SD (5 points) defined as clinically significant. Results: Twenty and 39 participants in the control and anesthesia groups, respectively, were included in the final analysis. The baseline cognitive scale score of the anesthesia group was statistically and clinically lower than that of the control group. The mean (SD) cognitive composite scores in the control and anesthesia group were 111.50 (11.71) and 97.13 (9.88), P<0.001. The mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)] was -14.37 (-8.28 to -20.47). In the anesthesia group, the post-anesthesia cognitive composite score was statistically higher than that at baseline, but without clinical significance. The mean (SD) of baseline and post-anesthesia cognitive composite scores were 97.05 (9.85) and 101.28 (10.87), P=0.039, respectively. The mean difference (95% CI) was 4.23 (0.23-8.23). However, 7 (17.9%) participants had decreased cognitive composite scores after anesthesia exposure. Conclusions: Children in the anesthesia group had lower baseline cognitive composite scores than those in the control group. The post-anesthesia cognitive score did not decrease compared with the baseline assessment. Anesthetic exposure resulted in a decline in the cognitive composite score in 17.9% of the participants.

Incidences and outcomes of intra-operative vs. postoperative paediatric cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study of 42 776 anaesthetics in children who underwent noncardiac surgery in a Thai tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: The reported incidence of paediatric perioperative cardiac arrest (PPOCA) in most developing countries ranges from 2.7 to 22.9 per 10 000 anaesthetics, resulting in mortality rates of 2.0 to 10.7 per 10 000 anaesthetics. The definitions of 'peri-operative' cardiac arrest often include the intra-operative period and extends from 60 min to 48 h after anaesthesia completion. However, the characteristics of cardiac arrests, care settings, and resuscitation quality may differ between intra-operative and early postoperative cardiac arrests. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mortality rates between intraoperative and early postoperative cardiac arrests (<24 h) following anaesthesia for paediatric noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: In a tertiary care centre in Thailand during 2014 to 2019, the peri-operative period was defined as from the beginning of anaesthesia care until 24 h after anaesthesia completion. PATIENTS: Paediatric patients aged 0 to 17 years who underwent anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality rates. RESULTS: A total of 42 776 anaesthetics were identified, with 63 PPOCAs and 23 deaths (36.5%). The incidence (95% confidence interval) of PPOCAs and mortality were 14.7 (11.5 to 18.8) and 5.4 (3.6 to 8.1) per 10 000 anaesthetics, respectively. Among 63 PPOCAs, 41 (65%) and 22 (35%) occurred during the intra-operative and postoperative periods, respectively. The median [min to max] time of postoperative cardiac arrest was 3.84 [0.05 to 19.47] h after anaesthesia completion. Mortalities (mortality rate) of postoperative cardiac arrest were significantly higher than that of intra-operative cardiac arrest at 14 (63.6%) vs. 9 (22.0%, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis of risk factors for mortality included emergency status and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with adjusted odds ratio 5.388 (95% confidence interval (1.031 to 28.160) and 1.067 (1.016 to 1.120). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative cardiac arrest resulted in a higher mortality rate than intra-operative cardiac arrest. A high level of care should be provided for at least 24 h after the completion of anaesthesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: None. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY URL: NA.

The actual duration of preoperative fasting in pediatric patients, and its effects on hunger and thirst: a prospective observational study.

Background: Preoperative fasting time for food and clear liquid was recommended as 2 and 6 h to prevent pulmonary aspiration. Prolonged fasting led to ketosis, hypotension, and patient discomfort. This study aimed to investigate the actual duration of preoperative fasting in pediatric patients, its effects on hunger and thirst, and factors that influence hunger and thirst. Methods: This prospective observational study recruited participants aged 0-15 years who were scheduled for elective surgery or for other procedures to be performed under general anesthesia in a tertiary care center. All parents or participants were asked to report the fasting time for food and clear liquid. Participants aged 7-15 years self-rated their degree of hunger and thirst using a 0-10 scale. For participants aged less than 7 years, parents were asked to rate their child's degree of hunger based on the child's behavior. Dextrose-containing intravenous fluid administration and anesthesia start time were collected. Results: Three hundred and nine participants were included. The overall median [interquartile range; IQR] fasting duration for food and clear liquid was 11.1 h [IQR: 8.0, 14.0] and 10.0 h [IQR: 7.2, 12.5], respectively. The overall median hunger and thirst score was 7 [IQR: 5, 9] and 5 [IQR: 0, 7.5], respectively. High hunger score was reported in 76.4% of participants. There was no correlation between fasting time for food and hunger score [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Rho): -0.150, P=0.008], or between fasting time for clear liquid and thirst score (Rho: 0.007, P=0.955). Zero to 2-year-old participants had a significantly higher hunger score compared to older participants (P<0.001) and a higher proportion (80-90%) of high hunger score regardless of anesthesia start time. Although dextrose-containing fluid was administered ≥10 mL/kg, 85.7% of this group still reported high hunger score (P=0.008). Ninety percent of participants who had anesthesia start time after 12:00 PM reported high hunger score (P=0.044). Conclusions: The actual duration of preoperative fasting was found to be longer than the recommendation for both food and liquid in pediatric surgical population. Younger age group and anesthesia start time in the afternoon were factors associated with high hunger score.

Apneic oxygenation with low-flow oxygen cannula for rapid sequence induction and intubation in pediatric patients: a randomized-controlled trial.

Background: Classical rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) is used to reduce pulmonary aspiration, but it increases the risk of hypoxemia. Apneic oxygenation (ApOx) has been studied to prolong safe apneic time, and to decrease the incidence of hypoxemia in adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of ApOx via low-flow nasal cannula to reduce the incidence of hypoxemia in pediatric rapid sequence induction. Methods: This prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial included patients aged 0-7 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 to 3, who underwent elective or emergency surgery under general anesthesia with rapid sequence induction during February 2020 to March 2021. Participants were randomized to the ApOx group or the classical rapid sequence induction group. The ApOx group received oxygen flow via regular nasal cannula, as follows: 1 liter per minute (LPM) in age 0-1 month, 2 LPM in age 1-12 months, and 4 LPM in age 1-7 years. The classical group did not receive oxygen supplementation during intubation. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoxemia, defined as oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤92%. Results: Sixty-four participants were recruited. The incidence of hypoxemia in both groups was 8 of 32 participants (25%) (P=1.000). Among desaturated patients, the median time to desaturation was 29.5 and 35 seconds in the ApOx and classical groups, respectively (P=0.527). The median lowest SpO2 was 91% and 88.5% in the ApOx and classical groups, respectively (P=0.079). In non-desaturated patients, the median time to successful intubation was 40.5 and 35.5 seconds in the ApOx and classical groups, respectively (P=0.069). Conclusions: In this small sample study, ApOx using age-adjusted low-flow nasal cannula was ineffective for reducing the incidence of hypoxemia in pediatric RSII. Trial Registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20210802002.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Abnormal Pre-Operative Chest X-Rays in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of pre-operative abnormal chest x-rays (CX Rs) in patients undergoing elective surgery, and to describe the management of the patients with abnormal CXRs. In addition, we question whether the healthy patients aged more than 45 years really needs pre-operative chest radiographs. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients undergoing elective surgery between June 2013 and May 2014 were recruited, and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Data for 960 patients was included CX Rs were abnormal in 485 patients (50.5%), with cardiomegaly being the most common abnormality. Among patients who had pre-operative abnormal CXRs, 91 patients (18.8%) required consultation or other investigation pre-operatively, and three patients (0.6%) had their treatment plans altered. Comparing between age groups, there was no different of abnormal results (p-value = 0.606). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of pre-operative abnormal CXRs was high; however, the abnormalities seldom led to changes in case management.