Infantile postoperative encephalopathy: perioperative factors as a cause for concern.

We report on 6 infants who underwent elective surgery and developed postoperative encephalopathy, which had features most consistent with intraoperative cerebral hypoperfusion. All infants were <48 weeks' postmenstrual age and underwent procedures lasting 120 to 185 minutes. Intraoperative records revealed that most of the measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) values were <60 mm Hg (the threshold for hypotension in awake infants according to the Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines) but that only 11% of the measured SBP values were <1 SD of the mean definition of hypotension (<45 mm Hg) as reported in a survey of members of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia in 2009. Four infants also exhibited prolonged periods of mild hypocapnia (<35 mm Hg). One infant did not receive intraoperative dextrose. All infants developed new-onset seizures within 25 hours of administration of the anesthetic, with a predominant cerebral pathology of supratentorial watershed infarction in the border zone between the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries. Follow-up of these infants found that 1 died, 1 had profound developmental delays, 1 had minor motor delays, 2 were normal, and 1 was lost to follow-up. Although the precise cause of encephalopathy cannot be determined, it is important to consider the role that SBP hypotension (as well as hypoglycemia, hyperthermia, hyperoxia, and hypocapnia) plays during general anesthesia in young infants in the development of infantile postoperative encephalopathy. Our observations highlight the lack of evidence-based recommendations for the lower limits of adequate SBP and end-tidal carbon dioxide in anesthetized infants.

Development, implementation, and initial participant feedback of a pediatric sedation provider course.

BACKGROUND: No standardized educational curriculum exists for pediatric sedation practitioners. We sought to describe the curriculum and implementation of a pediatric sedation provider course and assess learner satisfaction with the course curriculum. DESCRIPTION: The course content was determined by formulating a needs assessment using published sedation guidelines, reports of sedation related adverse events, and a survey of sedation practitioners. Students provided feedback regarding satisfaction with the course immediately following the course and 6 months later. EVALUATION: The course consisted of 5 didactic lectures, 1 small-group session, 6 simulation scenarios, a course syllabus, and a written examination. The course was conducted over 1 day at 3 different locations. Sixty-nine students completed the course and were uniformly satisfied with the course curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized pediatric sedation provider course was developed for sedation practitioners and consisted of a series of lectures and simulation scenarios. Overall satisfaction with the course was positive.

Anesthesia for patients undergoing transsternal thymectomy for juvenile myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) is the rare form of myasthenia gravis presenting in childhood and adolescence. When medical management fails, thymectomy is offered for these patients. Complete resection of the thymus is best achieved through transsternal thymectomy. Anesthetic management of patients with JMG is challenging, particularly in regards to the goals of postoperative pain control, respiratory function, and extubation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 13 patients, ranging in age from 6 to 22 years, who underwent transsternal thymectomy for JMG. Information on patient demographics, characteristics of their disease and treatment, anesthetic management, and postoperative course were collected. RESULTS: All patients had undergone multiple treatment modalities and presented for surgery because of inadequate symptom control with medical management. As expected for a pediatric population, anesthesia induction was age dependent. 40% of the patients underwent an inhalation induction and 60% underwent an intravenous induction. Anesthesia was maintained with a low-dose inhalation agent in all patients, supplemented in 84% of patients with a remifentanil infusion, and in 69% of patients with an epidural infusion. Muscle relaxants were avoided in all patients. With this regimen, 92% of patients could be extubated successfully in the operating room. CONCLUSION: We found that avoidance of muscle relaxants and use of remifentanil with a low-dose hypnotic agent provided a stable intraoperative course, facilitated rapid emergence, and allowed early extubation in patients with JMG undergoing transsternal thymectomy. Epidural analgesia reduced the need for intra- and postoperative intravenous opioids and did not have an adverse effect on respiratory strength.