Complications associated with removal of airway devices under deep anesthesia in children: an analysis of the Wake Up Safe database

Previous studies examining removal of endotracheal tubes and supraglottic devices under deep anesthesia were underpowered to identify rare complications. This study sought to report all adverse events associated with this practice found in a large national database of pediatric anesthesia adverse events.

An extract of an adverse events database created by the Wake Up Safe database, a multi-institutional pediatric anesthesia quality improvement initiative, was performed for this study. It was screened to identify anesthetics with variables indicating removal of airway devices under deep anesthesia. Three anesthesiologists screened the data to identify events where this practice possibly contributed to the event. Event data was extracted and collated.

One hundred two events met screening criteria and 66 met inclusion criteria. Two cardiac etiology events were identified, one of which resulted in the patient's demise. The remaining 97% of events were respiratory in nature (64 events), including airway obstruction, laryngospasm, bronchospasm and aspiration. Some respiratory events consisted of multiple distinct events in series. Nineteen respiratory events resulted in cardiac arrest (29.7%) of which 15 (78.9%) were deemed preventable by local anesthesiologists performing independent review. Respiratory events resulted in intensive care unit admission (37.5%), prolonged intubation and temporary neurologic injury but no permanent harm. Provider and patient factors were root causes in most events. Upon investigation, areas for improvement identified included improving patient selection, ensuring monitoring, availability of intravenous access, and access to emergency drugs and equipment until emergence.

Serious adverse events have been associated with this practice, but no respiratory events were associated with long-term harm.