Bleeding and ketorolac use in pediatric circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Circumcision is a common surgical procedure performed in pediatric male patients. Ketorolac is an effective adjunct in multimodal regimens for postoperative pain control. However, many urologists and anesthesiologists refrain from administering ketorolac due to concern for postoperative bleeding. AIMS: Compare the risk of clinically significant bleeding after circumcision with and without intraoperative ketorolac administration. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted of pediatric patients 1-18 years of age who underwent isolated circumcision by one urologist from 2016 to 2020. Clinically significant bleeding was defined as bleeding requiring intervention within the first 24 h of circumcision. Interventions included use of absorbable hemostats, placement of sutures, or return to the operating room. RESULTS: Of 743 patients, 314 (42.3%) did not receive ketorolac and 429 (57.7%) received intraoperative ketorolac 0.5 mg/kg. Postoperative bleeding requiring intervention occurred in one patient (0.32%) in the non-ketorolac group versus four patients (0.93%) in the ketorolac group (difference 0.6%, 95% CI [-0.8%, 2.0%], p = 0.403). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative bleeding requiring intervention between the non-ketorolac and ketorolac groups. Future studies regarding the association between ketorolac and postoperative bleeding are needed.

2020 guidelines for conducting plastic reconstructive short-term surgical projects in low-middle income countries.

Many low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to suffer from a lack of safe and timely essential and emergency surgery despite growing attention to this problem. Short-term surgical projects (STSPs) continue to play an important role in addressing LMIC unmet surgical need and strengthening local healthcare systems. Guidelines here present recommendations for performing plastic reconstructive STSPs for pediatric patients in a safe, ethical, and effective manner. These guidelines represent consensus physician expert opinions, assembled collaboratively by members of Volunteers in Plastic Surgery and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia's global health committee, with broad input from physicians practicing daily in LMICs. Organizations must partner with hosts to thoughtfully plan and carefully execute STSPs. We outline crucial items to STSP success, including choice of host facility, team selection, patient selection, staffing, ensuring proper equipment and supplies, disinfecting reusable equipment, creation of a safety culture, and data collection for quality assessment/improvement and research. Patient factors are discussed and recommendations given for developing exclusion criteria, as well as for determining which patients and procedures may require the team to include expertise in pediatric anesthesia or critical care. We recommend that educational opportunities for hosts are sought and advanced to optimize education/training at both the resident and post-trainee levels. Host education during STSPs has become crucial as LMICs ramp up training at a time when their surgical volumes remain grossly behind well-resourced countries. Recommendations here aim to assist organizations, hosts, and volunteers as they navigate the enormously complex and ever changing STSP environment. Patient safety and transfer of knowledge and skills should be central concerns of all who participate in this highly rewarding endeavor.

Guidelines and checklists for short-term missions in global pediatric surgery: Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics Delivery of Surgical Care Global Health Subcommittee, American Pediatric Surgical Association Global Pediatric Surgery Committee, Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Committee on International Education and Service, and American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. Global Health Special Interest Group.

Pediatric surgeons, anesthesia providers, and nurses from North America and other high-income countries are increasingly engaged in resource-limited areas, with short-term missions as the most common form of involvement. However, consensus recommendations currently do not exist for short-term missions in pediatric general surgery and associated perioperative care. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Delivery of Surgical Care Subcommittee and American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Global Pediatric Surgery Committee, with the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. (APSNA) Global Health Special Interest Group, and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) Committee on International Education and Service generated consensus recommendations for short-term missions based on extensive experience with short-term missions. Three distinct, but related areas were identified: (i) Broad goals of surgical partnerships between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries. A previous set of guidelines published by the Global Paediatric Surgery Network Collaborative (GPSN) was endorsed by all groups; (ii) Guidelines for the conduct of short-term missions were developed, including planning, in-country perioperative patient care, post-trip follow-up, and sustainability; and (iii) travel and safety considerations critical to short-term mission success were enumerated. A diverse group of stakeholders developed these guidelines for short-term missions in low- and middle-income countries. These guidelines may be a useful tool to ensure safe, responsible, and ethical short-term missions given increasing engagement of high-income country providers in this work.

Guidelines and checklists for short-term missions in global pediatric surgery: Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics Delivery of Surgical Care Global Health Subcommittee, American Pediatric Surgical Association Global Pediatric Surgery Committee, Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Committee on International Education and Service, and American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. Global Health Special Interest Group.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric surgeons, anesthesia providers, and nurses from North America and other high-income countries (HICs) are increasingly engaged in resource-limited areas, with short-term missions (STMs) as the most common form of involvement. However, consensus recommendations currently do not exist for STMs in pediatric general surgery and associated perioperative care. METHODS: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Delivery of Surgical Care Subcommittee and American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Global Pediatric Surgery Committee, with the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. (APSNA) Global Health Special Interest Group, and the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) Committee on International Education and Service generated consensus recommendations for STMs based on extensive experience with STMs. RESULTS: Three distinct, but related areas were identified: 1) Broad goals of surgical partnerships between HICs- and low and middle-income countries (LMICs). A previous set of guidelines published by the Global Paediatric Surgery Network Collaborative (GPSN), was endorsed by all groups; 2) Guidelines for the conduct of STMs were developed, including planning, in-country perioperative patient care, post-trip follow-up, and sustainability; 3) travel and safety considerations critical to STM success were enumerated. CONCLUSION: A diverse group of stakeholders developed these guidelines for STMs in LMICs. These guidelines may be a useful tool to ensure safe, responsible, and ethical STMs given increasing engagement of HIC providers in this work. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Can we reduce anesthesia exposure? Neonatal brain MRI: Swaddling vs. sedation, a national survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic modality that requires minimal motion to acquire quality images. Sedation or even general anesthesia may be necessary to achieve acceptable scans. There is a growing body of literature, especially in animal studies, that links neurotoxicity with anesthetic exposure to the developing brain. There is no study outlining strategies used by neonatal intensive care units (NICU) to achieve quality MRI images with limited exposure to medications identified as possibly harmful to the developing brain. DESIGN: A 15-question survey was sent to all NICU programs in the United States (US) with fellowship programs. SETTING: MRI suite. PATIENTS: Neonates. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: The programs were queried regarding their preferred method for obtaining MRIs of the brain and how successful they were in obtaining quality images. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 96 programs surveyed, 58 responded (response rate of 60%). To obtain brain MRIs, 64%(n=37) used feed and swaddle; 32% (n=19) use sedation; and 3% (n=2) used general anesthesia (GA). Success rate of obtaining quality MRI images varied by technique. In the feed and swaddle group, 81% reported that a failure to obtain useful images occurred <25%; 11% reported that it occurred 25-75%; and 5% reported that it occurred >75%. In the sedation and GA group, 100% reported failure to obtain useful images occurred rarely. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of NICUs in the US that responded to the survey utilized feed and swaddle as their primary technique for obtaining MRIs of the brain and reported a high success rate. Given the growing concern over the possible neurotoxic effects of anesthetic drugs on the developing brain, more centers should consider this technique as a first line method to obtain brain MRIs, with sedation and GA reserved for failed feed and swaddle attempts and special circumstances.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular lesions in segment II of the liver: a risk factor for cardiac tamponade.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) is a minimally invasive procedure used for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas. PRFA is regarded as a much safer alternative to surgical resection or orthotopic liver transplantation. However, serious complications, including cardiac tamponade, have been reported. Two cases of severe cardiac tamponade during PRFA were successfully treated.

Anesthetics and the developing brain.

In the past decade, concern has been raised about the safety of anesthetic agents on the developing brain. Animal studies have shown an increase in apoptosis in the developing brain when exposed to N-methyl-D-asparate receptor blockers and/or gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor agonists that is related to the dose and duration of anesthetic agents. Whether these studies can be extrapolated to humans is being investigated. The Food and Drug Administration in 2007 convened an advisory committee to look at this issue. They found that the animal data available were inadequate to extrapolate to humans and determined that human studies were necessary. Human studies are underway but the challenge they face is how to delineate the effects of anesthesia from those of the underlying medical condition and surgery itself. At this time, we must continue to make decisions based on the known risks and benefits of anesthetics and apply it on an individual basis.

Management of a cadaveric orthotopic liver transplantation in a pediatric patient with complex congenital heart disease.

Pediatric orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) are commonly performed nowadays. Two primary reasons for OLT in children are complications from either extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) or inborn errors of metabolism. However, congenital liver disease may be associated with significant other congenital abnormalities. We present a case of a successful OLT in a pediatric patient with a history of EHBA, situs inversus, and complex congenital heart disease. The cardiac anomalies include dextrocardia, absence of the atrial septum (single atrium), single atrioventricular valve (a-v canal), and an incomplete ventricular septum. Prior surgery include a Kasai procedure for EHBA, banding of the proximal main pulmonary artery, and Broviac catheter placement. We present the anesthesia concerns and management for this complicated case.

Anesthetic issues in pediatric liver transplantation.

Pediatric liver transplantations are becoming increasingly more common. Recent advances in the surgical and anesthetic management of these cases have greatly improved the survival rate. In order to successfully manage the anesthesia in these patients, one needs to have a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of end-stage liver disease and the subsequent anesthetic implications. It is also necessary to appreciate the stages of the surgical procedure, as each stage presents different dilemmas to the anesthesiologist. This article will review the pathophysiology of liver failure in pediatric patients and outline the particular issues related to each stage of liver transplantation, allowing for the anticipation and management of the derangements that occur during surgery.