Pediatric Anesthesia Considerations for Interventional Radiology

Anesthesiologists are increasingly called on to care for pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic imaging and invasive procedures in interventional radiology. These procedures are typically classified as either nonvascular or vascular, and can range from short diagnostic imaging studies or biopsies to significantly longer and more invasive intravascular procedures. Anesthesia providers must consider each child's ability to cooperate reliably during the procedure, their age, and any cognitive impairment to define the best anesthetic plan. Several unique pediatric patient populations with specific procedural implications and anesthetic considerations who will benefit from additional periprocedural planning are discussed.