Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
11:19
Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation
Published on: January 18, 2011
Newer drugs in pediatric anesthesia
1Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
|March 5, 1999
Summary
Newer anesthetic drugs offer expanded choices for pediatric care. This review covers agents for premedication, induction, maintenance, muscle relaxation, and anti-emetic therapy, aiding anesthesiologists in pediatric patient management.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Pharmacology
Background:
- Pediatric anesthesia faces evolving pharmacological options.
- Many new anesthetic agents lack specific pediatric indications.
- Clinical utility and cost-effectiveness studies are crucial for pediatric drug selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent pharmacological advancements relevant to pediatric anesthesia.
- To discuss the application of new drugs in various stages of anesthetic management for children.
- To address the clinical pharmacology of new muscle relaxants and anesthetic controversies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent pharmacological developments.
- Analysis of clinical studies on drug utility and cost-effectiveness in pediatric anesthesia.
- Discussion of drug information for premedication, induction, maintenance, muscle relaxation, and anti-emetic therapy.
Main Results:
- Newer drugs provide broader options for pediatric anesthesia.
- Information is presented on agents for all phases of anesthesia, including muscle relaxants.
- The review covers topical, regional anesthesia, and anti-emetic options.
Conclusions:
- Anesthesiologists have increased pharmacological choices for pediatric patients.
- Evidence-based selection of new agents is vital for safe and effective pediatric anesthesia.
- The review provides a comprehensive overview of current anesthetic pharmacotherapy in pediatrics.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
01:20Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...