Impact of clear fluid fasting on pulmonary aspiration in children undergoing general anesthesia: Results of the German prospective multicenter observational (NiKs) study.

BACKGROUND: A preliminary national audit of real fasting times including 3324 children showed that the fasting times for clear fluids and light meals were frequently shorter than recommended in current guidelines, but the sample size was too small for subgroup analyses. AIMS: Therefore, the primary aim of this extended study with more participating centers and a larger sample size was to determine whether shortened fasting times for clear fluids or light meals have an impact on the incidence of regurgitation or pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia in children. The secondary aim was to evaluate the impact of age, emergent status, ASA classification, induction method, airway management or surgical procedure. METHODS: After the Ethics Committee's approval, at least more than 10 000 children in total were planned to be enrolled for this analysis. Patient demographics, real fasting times, anesthetic and surgical procedures, and occurrence of target adverse events defined as regurgitation or pulmonary aspiration were documented using a standardized case report form. RESULTS: At fifteen pediatric centers, 12 093 children scheduled for surgery or interventional procedures were included between October 2018 and December 2019. Fasting times were shorter than recommended in current guidelines for large meals in 2.5%, for light meals in 22.4%, for formula milk in 5.3%, for breastmilk in 10.9%, and for clear fluids in 39.2%. Thirty-one cases (0.26%) of regurgitation, ten cases (0.08%) of suspected pulmonary aspiration, and four cases (0.03%) of confirmed pulmonary aspiration were reported, and all of them recovered quickly without any consequences. Fasting times for clear fluids shortened from 2 hours to 1 hour did not affect the incidence of adverse events (upper limit 95% CI 0.08%). The sample size of the cohort with fasting times for light meals shorter than 6 hours was too small for a subgroup analysis. An age between one and 3 years (odds ratio 2.7,95% CI 1.3 to 5.8%; P < .01) and emergent procedures (odds ratio 2.8,95% CI 1.4 to 5.7;P < .01) increased the incidence of adverse events, whereas ASA classification, induction method, or surgical procedure had no influence. The clear fluid fasting times were shortest under 6/4/0 as compared to 6/4/1 and 6/4/2 fasting regimens, all with an incidence of 0.3% for adverse events. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a clear fluid fasting time shortened from 2 hours to 1 hour does not affect the incidence of regurgitation or pulmonary aspiration, that an age between one and 3 years and emergent status increase the incidence of regurgitation or pulmonary aspiration, and that pulmonary aspiration followed by postoperative respiratory distress is rare and usually shows a quick recovery.

Perioperative complications in patients diagnosed with mucopolysaccharidosis and the impact of enzyme replacement therapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at early age.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are hereditary storage diseases; airway management typically worsens in these patients with the progression of the disease. OBJECTIVE(S): To assess the incidence of perioperative complications in children with MPS and the impact of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: The records of patients with MPS treated with ERT followed by HSCT, who received anesthesia at the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital between 2003 and 2012, were reviewed. Data were collected on incidence of perioperative respiratory and cardiovascular complications and the impact of treatment and age. RESULTS: Nineteen children with MPS were identified (including 17 Hurler patients), who received ERT treatment followed by HSCT. Median age at start of treatment was 14 (range: 7-43) months. Patients were anesthetized 136 times. The incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular complications was 24% and 4%, respectively. Airway management by face mask was difficult in 7%. There were no problems with the laryngeal mask airway. Tracheal intubation was difficult in 25% and failed in 10%; using a video laryngoscope was most successful (89%), followed by classic laryngoscope (67%) and fiber-optic scope (20%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the incidence of perioperative respiratory problems did not increase with age or decrease after start of treatment. CONCLUSION: Perioperative airway management was most successful using a laryngeal mask airway or video laryngoscope. Treatment with ERT followed by HSCT and patient age did not influence the incidence of perioperative respiratory problems.

Factors influencing blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusion practice in craniosynostosis surgery.

OBJECTIVE/AIMS: To identify factors influencing perioperative blood loss and transfusion practice in craniosynostotic corrections. BACKGROUND: Craniosynostotic corrections are associated with large amounts of blood loss and high transfusion rates. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of all pediatric craniosynostotic corrections during the period from January 2003 to October 2009. The primary endpoint was the receipt of an allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) during or after surgery. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data were acquired using the electronic hospital registration systems and patients' charts. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were operated using open surgical techniques. The mean estimated blood loss during surgery was 55 ml·kg(-1). In 42 patients, red blood cells were administered during or after surgery with a mean of 38 ml·kg(-1). In 23 patients, fresh frozen plasma was administered with a mean of 28 ml·kg(-1). A median of two different donors per recipient was found. Longer duration of surgery and lower bodyweight were associated with significantly more blood loss and red blood cell transfusions. Higher perioperative blood loss and surgery at an early age were correlated with a longer duration of admission. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, craniosynostotic corrections were associated with large amounts of blood loss and high ABT rates. The amount of ABT could possibly be reduced by appointing a dedicated team of physicians, by using new less-invasive surgical techniques, and by adjusting anesthetic techniques.

Quality improvement: implementation of a pain management policy in a university pediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, individual doctors and nurses in our pediatric hospital made decisions about the application of pain relief in patients, resulting in a wide variety of practice. The main task of our pain group was to develop hospital-wide practice standards for acute pain management to improve care. One of the key points of the pain policy was the introduction of pain assessment tools (COMFORT and Visual Analogue Scale). METHODS: A project team supported by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (CBO) collaborated during 1 year. The pain policy and in particular, the pain assessment tools, were implemented in the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) and surgical ward. The following targets were set: pain assessment will be performed in 95% of cases and the severity of pain will be 'no or mild pain' in 95% of cases. RESULTS: During the study period, 37% of all proposed pain assessments could be retrieved. The maximum retrievement score was 68%. In 80% of patients, at least one pain score was retrieved. The scores were divided as follows: 67% no or mild pain, 11% moderate pain, 1% severe pain. In the PACU, over 80% of pain assessments were retrieved; in six study weeks, the aimed score of 95% was reached; 94% of patients reported no or mild pain at departure. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a pain policy in a pediatric hospital is a difficult process. Pain management in the PACU fell just short of the set target performances. In the surgical ward, embedding the importance of pain assessment remains a challenge and a prerequisite for quality of care in pain management.