Anesthetic management of the newborn

Advances in monitoring technology, the availability of special skill, and training has resulted in the improved perioperative care of the newborn. With the coordinated efforts of pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric surgeons, and neonatologists, safe anesthesia and surgery have become a reality even in a sick 500-gm premature infant. Fortunately for these nonverbal neonates, the personnel involved in this perioperative care are now more sensitive to their analgesic and anesthetic needs. With adequate preoperative preparation and intraoperative monitoring, safe anesthesia at present can be provided to most critically ill neonates, using the guidelines outlined above. In addition, the postoperative period also can be made pain free for them by a judicious selection of analgesic and local anesthetic drugs.