Anesthesia in Children with Neuroblastoma, Perioperative and Operative Management

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial, solid, pediatric malignancy and, despite the constant progress of treatment and development of innovative therapies, remains a complex, challenging disease causing major morbidity and mortality in children. There is significant variability in the management of neuroblastoma, partially due to the heterogeneity of the clinical and biological behavior, and partially secondary to the different approaches between treating institutions. Anesthesia takes an integral part in the multidisciplinary care of patients with NB, from diagnosis to surgery and pain control. This paper aims to review and discuss the critical steps of the perioperative and operative management of children undergoing surgery for neuroblastoma. Anesthesia and analgesia largely depend on tumor location, surgical approach, and extension of the surgical dissection. Attention should be paid to the physio-pathological changes on cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune systems induced by the tumor or by chemotherapy. At the time of surgery meticulous patient preparation needs to be carried out to optimize intraoperative monitoring and minimize the risk of complications. The cross-sectional role of anesthesia in cancer care requires effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team.