Pediatric anesthesiology in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Latin America comprises an extensive and diverse territory composed of 33 countries in the Caribbean, Central, and South America where Romance languages-languages derived from Latin are predominantly spoken. Economic disparities exist, with inequitable access to pediatric surgical care. The Latin American Surgical Outcomes Study in Pediatrics (LASOS-Peds), a multi-national collaboration, will determine safety of pediatric anesthesia and perioperative care. OBJECTIVE: Below, we provide a descriptive initiative to share how pediatric anesthesia in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico operate. Theses descriptions do not represent all of Latin America. DESCRIPTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Brazil an upper middle-income country, population 203 million, has a public system insufficiently resourced and a private system, resulting in inequitable safety and accessibility. Surgical complications constitute the third leading cause of mortality. Anesthesiology residency is 3 years, with required rotations in pediatric anesthesia; five hospitals offer pediatric anesthesia fellowships. Anesthesiology is a physician-only practice. A Pediatric Anesthesia Committee within the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology offers education through seasonal courses and workshops including pediatric advanced life support. Chile is a high-income country, population 19.5 million, the majority cared for in the public system, the remainder in university, private, or military systems. Government efforts have gradually corrected the long-standing anesthesiology shortage: twenty 3-year residency programs prepare graduates for routine pediatric cases. The Chilean Society of Anesthesiology runs a 1-month program for general anesthesiologists to enhance pediatric anesthesia skills. Pediatric anesthesia fellowship training occurs in Europe, USA, and Australia, or in two 2-year Chilean university programs. Public health policies have increased the medical and surgical pediatric specialists and general anesthesiologists, but not pediatric anesthesiologists, which creates safety concerns for neonates, infants, and medically complex. Chile needs more pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs. Mexico, an upper middle-income country, with a population of about 126 million, has a five-sector healthcare system: public, social security for union workers, state for public employees, armed forces for the military, and a private "self-pay." There are inequities in safety and accessibility for children. Pediatric Anesthesiology fellowship is 2 years, after 3 years residency. A shortage of pediatric anesthesiologists limits accessibility and safety for surgical care, driven by added training at low salary and hospital under appreciation. The Mexican Society of Pediatric Anesthesiology conducts refresher courses, workshops, and case conferences. Insufficient resources and culture limits research.

Recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) for difficult airway management in pediatric care.

Difficult airway management in pediatrics during anesthesia represents a major challenge, requiring a careful approach, advanced technical expertise, and accurate protocols. The task force of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) presents a report containing updated recommendations for the management of difficult airways in children and neonates. These recommendations have been developed based on the consensus of a panel of experts, with the objective of offering strategies to overcome challenges during airway management in pediatric patients. Grounded in evidence published in international guidelines and expert opinions, the report highlights crucial steps for the appropriate management of difficult airways in pediatrics, encompassing assessment, preparation, positioning, pre-oxygenation, minimizing trauma, and, paramountly, the maintenance of arterial oxygenation. The report also delves into additional strategies involving the use of advanced tools, such as video laryngoscopy, flexible intubating bronchoscopy, and supraglottic devices. Emphasis is placed on the simplicity of implementing the outlined recommendations, with a focus on the significance of continuous education, training through realistic simulations, and familiarity with the latest available technologies. These practices are deemed essential to ensure procedural safety and contribute to the enhancement of anesthesia outcomes in pediatrics.

Comparison of intravenous and inhalation anesthesia on postoperative behavior changes in children undergoing ambulatory endoscopic procedures: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Early and delayed behavioral changes are well recognized after anesthesia. Intravenous anesthesia may prevent emergence delirium. However, it has not been evaluated as a preventive strategy for delayed postoperative behavior changes. AIMS: We aimed to determine whether intravenous anesthesia is effective at reducing postoperative behavior changes in children undergoing ambulatory endoscopic procedures when compared to inhalation anesthesia. METHODS: This randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was approved by the local IRB. Children aged 1-12 years who underwent ambulatory endoscopic procedures were recruited. Preoperative anxiety was evaluated through the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. All children underwent face mask inhalation induction with sevoflurane. After a peripheral line was placed, each child was allocated to sevoflurane or propofol maintenance. Emergence delirium was evaluated through the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale. The child was discharged home, and behavioral changes were assessed through the Posthospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery on Days 1, 7, and 14. RESULTS: Overall, 175 children were enrolled. On Day 1 after the procedure, 57 children presented at least one negative behavior. On Days 7 and 14, 49 and 44 children presented at least one negative behavior, respectively. The median number of negative behaviors was similar between the groups. Post hoc analyses showed a moderate correlation between emergence delirium and negative postoperative behavior on Day 7 (r = .34; p = <.001) and an increase of 3.31 (95% CI 1.90; 4.36 p < .001) points in the mean summed score of new negative behaviors for individuals with emergence delirium. CONCLUSION: The incidence of postoperative behavior changes in children undergoing ambulatory endoscopic procedures was similar when comparing intravenous with inhalation anesthesia. Children who experience emergence delirium might show a greater incidence of negative postoperative behavior changes.

New Drug Developments for Neuromuscular Blockade and Reversal: Gantacurium, CW002, CW011, and Calabadion.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief review of the literature on the recent developments in neuromuscular blockade and reversal agents. RECENT FINDINGS: Novel drug development resulted in pharmacological advancements in neuromuscular management and led to a new series of compounds, chlorofumarates, such as gantacurium, CW002, and CW011. These drugs have a fast onset and rapid to intermediate duration of action and can be rapidly reversed by l-cysteine adduction without side effects that are commonly observed with anticholinesterase reversal drugs. Another new advancement is the development of a new class of reversal drugs, the calabadions. These drugs are able to reverse both steroidal and non-steroidal non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs rapidly. SUMMARY: Recent advancements in neuromuscular blocking agents and reversal drugs have shown promise in improving safety of management of neuromuscular blockade. Preclinical and clinical studies are discussed. However, to date these new drugs are not yet available for clinical use.

[Reversal of neuromuscular block with sugammadex in five heart transplant pediatric recipients]. / Reversão do bloqueio neuromuscular com sugamadex em cinco receptores pediátricos de transplante cardíaco.

Heart transplantation is a frequent procedure in the treatment of end-stage cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, these patient populations will also be more frequent exposed to other more common surgical procedures after their transplantation. Anesthesiologist should be aware in their assessment of these patients, especially regarding some specific issues related to patients with a history of heart transplantation, like reversal of neuromuscular block. Several reports described that cholinesterase inhibitors drugs, like neostigmine, may produce a dose-dependent life-threatening bradycardia in heart transplant recipients while other publication described the safe use of neostigmine. Reversal of neuromuscular block with sugammadex is another possibility, but limited data exists in literature. We describe five cases in which successful reversal of neuromuscular block was performed with sugammadex in heart transplant pediatric recipients without sequelae and discuss the reversal of neuromuscular block in this patient population.

Rocuronium and sugammadex in a 3 days old neonate for draining an ovarian cyst. Neuromuscular management and review of the literature / Rocurônio e sugamadex em recém-nascido de 3 dias para drenagem de um cisto ovariano. Controle neuromuscular e revisão da literatura

Abstract A case is reported in which a 3-days old neonate with a giant ovarian cyst was scheduled for surgery. The patient received a dose of sugammadex to reverse a rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. A fast and efficient recovery from neuromuscular block was achieved within 90 s. No adverse events or other safety concerns were observed. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the use of sugammadex in neonates was performed.

Resumo Relato do caso de uma criança recém-nascida de três dias de idade com um cisto ovariano gigante programada para a cirurgia. A paciente recebeu uma dose de sugamadex para reverter o bloqueio neuromuscular induzido por rocurônio. Uma recuperação rápida e eficiente do bloqueio neuromuscular foi obtida dentro de 90 segundos. Não foram observados efeitos adversos ou outros problemas de segurança. Além disso, uma revisão da literatura sobre o uso de sugamadex em recém-nascidos foi feita.

Rocuronium and sugammadex in a 3 days old neonate for draining an ovarian cyst. Neuromuscular management and review of the literature.

A case is reported in which a 3-days old neonate with a giant ovarian cyst was scheduled for surgery. The patient received a dose of sugammadex to reverse a rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. A fast and efficient recovery from neuromuscular block was achieved within 90s. No adverse events or other safety concerns were observed. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the use of sugammadex in neonates was performed.

[Rocuronium and sugammadex in a 3 days old neonate for draining an ovarian cyst. Neuromuscular management and review of the literature]. / Rocurônio e sugamadex em recém-nascido de 3 dias para drenagem de um cisto ovariano. Controle neuromuscular e revisão da literatura.

A case is reported in which a 3-days old neonate with a giant ovarian cyst was scheduled for surgery. The patient received a dose of sugammadex to reverse a rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. A fast and efficient recovery from neuromuscular block was achieved within 90s. No adverse events or other safety concerns were observed. Furthermore, a review of the literature on the use of sugammadex in neonates was performed.

Variação da pressão sistólica como método diagnóstico da hipovolemia durante anestesia para cirurgia cardíaca / Systolic pressure variation as diagnostic method for hypovolemia during anesthesia for cardiac surgery

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A estimativa acurada do volume intravascular efetivo é de grande importância em pacientes submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos de grande porte. A avaliação da volemia, baseada na variação da pressão sistólica (VPS), (diferença entre os valores sistólicos máximos e mínimos durante um ciclo respiratório controlado mecanicamente) e sua variável delta down (dDown) tem se mostrado um indicador sensível da pré-carga, quando cotejados com parâmetros hemodinâmicos convencionais. Como a VPS não é um parâmetro utilizado rotineiramente para avaliação da volemia, este trabalho teve como objetivo introduzir a técnica da medida da VPS e verificar sua validade em pacientes submetidos à anestesia para cirurgia cardíaca. MÉTODO: A partir de programa de computador especialmente desenvolvido, transmitiu-se em tempo real a variação da pressão arterial a partir do monitor da sala cirúrgica para microcomputador conectado em rede. Após a adaptação deste sistema, foram estudadas as variações da pressão sistólica em nove pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio. As variáveis foram registradas em dois momentos, utilizando-se a expansão volêmica como indicador: M0 (antes da expansão volêmica) e M1 (após a expansão volêmica). Também foram estudados alguns parâmetros hemodinâmicos convencionais, confrontados com a variação da pressão sistólica. RESULTADOS: Os principais resultados deste estudo mostram que a VPS, em seu componente dDown, é a que apresenta maior consistência de variação após a expansão volêmica com amido.Os demais parâmetros hemodinâmicos estudados, embora apontem para nítida melhora cardiovascular após a expansão, possuem alta variabilidade entre os pacientes e mesmo quanto à resposta ao expansor. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos mostram que a VPS se comporta como um sensível indicador da volemia, em pacientes sob ventilação mecânica, quando correlacionada às variações da pressão venosa central, pressão capilar pulmonar e índice sistólico.

Systolic pressure variation as diagnostic method for hypovolemia during anesthesia for cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An accurate predictor of effective intravascular volume is of paramount importance for patients submitted to major surgical procedures. A new method to evaluate intravascular volume based on systolic blood pressure variations (SPV), (difference between the maximum and minimum systolic values during controlled respiratory cycle) and its variable delta down (dDown) has shown to be a sensitive indicator of ventricular preload. As SPV is not routinely used in clinical practice our purpose was to evaluate the accuracy of this parameter in evaluating volume status of patients submitted to cardiac surgery. METHODS: As from specially developed software, blood pressure variation was transmitted in real time from operating room monitor to a network-connected computer. After the adaptation of this system, nine patients submitted to cardiac surgery were evaluated. Variables were recorded in two moments: T0 (before volume replacement) and TP (after volume replacement). At the same time, conventional hemodynamic parameters were also studied and compared to systolic pressure variation. RESULTS: Primary study results have shown that SPV (systolic pressure variation), in its dDown component, presents the best variation consistency after volume replacement with starch. Remaining hemodynamic parameters evaluated, although pointing to clear cardiovascular improvement after replacement, are highly variable among the patients and even on expander's response. CONCLUSIONS: Results have shown that SPV is a sensitive method to evaluate intravascular volume status in patients under mechanical ventilation, when correlated to central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systolic index variations.