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The Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG) Consensus Conference Methodology
Courtney K Derderian1, Christopher A Derderian2, Allison Fernandez3
1Department of Anesthesia and Pediatric Anesthesia, University of Texas Southwestern, Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Insights
This consensus conference developed best practices for pediatric craniofacial anesthesia during open cranial vault surgery. Experts created guidelines for perioperative management of craniosynostosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric craniofacial surgery requires specialized anesthetic care.
- Craniosynostosis treatment involves complex open cranial vault surgery.
- Standardized perioperative management protocols are essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish consensus recommendations for pediatric craniofacial anesthesia.
- To define perioperative management guidelines for open cranial vault surgery in craniosynostosis.
- To identify areas for future research in pediatric craniofacial surgery.
Main Methods:
- A novel consensus conference methodology was employed.
- National experts in pediatric craniofacial surgery and anesthesia participated.
- The Institute of Medicine standards and UCLA appropriateness method were utilized.
- Systematic literature reviews informed subgroup discussions.
Main Results:
- Recommendations for perioperative management were developed.
- Twelve subgroups addressed specific topics in pediatric craniofacial anesthesia.
- Future research needs were identified for the field.
Conclusions:
- The Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG) established expert-driven guidelines.
- These recommendations aim to optimize care for pediatric patients undergoing open cranial vault surgery.
- The consensus process highlights key areas for advancing research and clinical practice.
Objective:
This article describes the methodology used for the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG) Consensus Conference.
Design:
This is a novel Consensus Conference of national experts in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery and Anesthesia, who will follow standards set by the Institute of Medicine and using the Research and Development/University of California, Los Angeles appropriateness method, modeled after the Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative. Topics related to pediatric craniofacial anesthesia for open cranial vault surgery were divided into twelve subgroups with a systematic review of the literature.
Setting:
A group of 20 content experts met virtually between 2019 and 2020 and will collaborate in their selected topics related to perioperative management for pediatric open cranial vault surgery for craniosynostosis. These groups will also identify where future research is needed.
Conclusions:
Experts in pediatric craniofacial surgery and anesthesiology are developing recommendations on behalf of the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group for perioperative management of patients undergoing open cranial vault surgery for craniosynostosis and identifying future research priorities.
