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Anesthesia in children with a cold

Karin Becke1

  • 1Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Cnopf Children's Hospital, Hospital Hallerwiese, St. Johannis-Muehlgasse, Nuernberg, Germany. Karin.Becke@diakonieneuendettelsau.de

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|April 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Anesthesia in children with common colds can be safe if managed carefully. Postpone anesthesia for children with severe symptoms like fever or wheezing for at least two weeks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • Perioperative Medicine

Background:

  • Common colds are frequent viral infections in children.
  • Respiratory tract infections increase anesthetic risk due to perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs).
  • While PRAE morbidity/mortality is low with experienced anesthesiologists, careful assessment is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on upper respiratory tract infections in children undergoing anesthesia.
  • To outline pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors for PRAE, and anesthetic management strategies.
  • To provide a decision algorithm for anesthetic care in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on pediatric respiratory infections and anesthesia.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors for PRAE.
  • Synthesis of current anesthetic management, prevention, and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • Anesthesia can be safe in children with colds under specific conditions.
  • Anesthesia should be postponed for at least 2 weeks in children with symptomatic infections (wheezing, fever, etc.).
  • Specific anesthetic techniques (e.g., mask anesthesia, propofol induction) and avoidance of certain agents (desflurane) are recommended.

Conclusions:

  • Careful preoperative assessment and perioperative management are essential for safe anesthesia in children with colds.
  • Postponement of anesthesia is crucial for symptomatic infections.
  • Experienced anesthesiologists are key to preventing and managing complications.
Abstract

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