[Anesthesia of the newborn weighing less than 2000 g, 100 cases (author's transl)]

We gave special attention to these very fragile newborns in whom associated pathology was often present. We were faced above all by respiratory and hemodynamic problems. Pre-operative care is essential and must be adapted to the degree of emergency. The newborn must reach the operating room in normothermia, normoxia and in adequate metabolic status. The anaesthesia technique used was always simple with few anaesthesics and ventilation controlled manually and mechanically after intubation. Scrupulous monitoring was always the case. Principal anaesthesic incidents included hypothermia and tachycardia. A precise cause was linked to the 13 accidents encountered. In 8 cases slow decurarisation was noted. Special comments must be made about the premature infant's possibilities versus pharmacocinetic of anesthesics, hemodynamic modification, hyperbi lirubinemia hepatic and renal enzymatic immaturity. Thus we think the anesthesiologist must be specifically trained for the care of these patients.