Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients

The Effects of Early Oral Intake in the Postanesthesia Care Unit on Nausea and Vomiting: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether early oral fluid intake after surgery compared with delayed oral intake causes nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients who underwent general anesthesia in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 6.4), this study searched electronic databases, including Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, RISS, and KoreaMed up to July 2023. The Risk of Bias 2 tool assessed the risk of bias, and R statistical software facilitated meta-analysis. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.

FINDINGS

A meta-analysis of 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (2,723 patients) found early oral intake in the PACU decreased vomiting incidence by 36% compared with delayed oral fluid intake (risk ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.42 to 0.97, P = .040, I2 = 7%) with moderate certainty of evidence. Another meta-analysis of 3 RCTs (2,185 participants) showed that early oral intake did not increase nausea compared with delayed oral intake (95% confidence interval: -0.76 to 0.07, P = .071, I2 = 0%) with low certainty of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Early oral fluid intake in the PACU decreases postoperative vomiting without raising nausea. Health care providers should consider implementing early oral fluid intake in the PACU for enhanced recovery of pediatric patients.

Interdisciplinary management of patients with special healthcare needs undergoing dental treatment in a tertiary care hospital setting in Germany: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the dental and medical parameters, including peri- and postoperative management and complications, of patients with special healthcare needs receiving dental treatment in a tertiary care hospital setting.

METHODS

A total of 154 patients (mean age 7.8 ± 4.1 years) who received dental treatment under general anaesthesia or analgosedation at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry of the XXX University in XXXXXXX between 2021 and 2023 were divided into the following diseases: metabolic disease, nervous system disorder, congenital heart disease, tumour disease, gastroenterological disease, genetic syndrome, pulmonology disease and coagulopathy. Caries experience (dmf-t/DMF-T), type of anaesthesia and pre- and perioperative parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

Regardless of disease, all children showed higher caries experience in the primary dentition compared to permanent dentition (mean ± standard deviation; 6.44 ± 4.85/2.01 ± 3.87). Most of the children suffered from genetic syndrome, followed by congenital heart and metabolic disease. Dental treatment was mostly performed under general anaesthesia. 92.2% of those patients were intubated orotracheally and 66.9% received antiemetics. The complication rate was lower than 3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Data show that special healthcare needs patients regardless of kind of disease are highly affected by caries and require dental treatment. Most dental restorations were performed under general anaesthesia. Regardless of disease and type of anaesthesia, the complication rate was low, which underlines the high clinical relevance of adequate dental care under general anaesthesia for this vulnerable patient group.

Synergistic Antiemetic Effects of Nerolidol on Domperidone, Hyoscine, and Ondansetron: In Vivo and in Silico Investigations on Receptor Binding Affinity

The present study was designed to measure the potential antiemetic properties of nerolidol (NDL) via in vivo and in silico studies. To induce emesis copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O) was administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg (orally) to 2-day-old chicks. The test sample (NDL) was given at two doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. b.w. orally. Additionally, aprepitant (16 mg/kg), domperidone (6 mg/kg), hyoscine (21 mg/kg), ondansetron (5 mg/kg), and diphenhydramine (10 mg/kg) were given also orally as positive controls. To observe the modulatory effects of the test sample, combination therapies with reference drugs were also administered to three different groups of animals. Molecular docking and visualization of ligand-receptor interaction were performed against several emesis-inducing receptors (5HT3, D2, D3, H1, and M1-M5) using diverse computational tools. Pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness of the selected ligands were also calculated. Findings demonstrated that NDL significantly (p <0.05) dose-dependently lessens the mean number of retches and delays the emetic onset in the chicks. The combined drug therapy with ondansetron exposed better antiemetic activity. In addition, in silico analysis, NDL has greater binding affinity (-7.3 kcal/mol) against M2 and M3 receptors. In conclusion, NDL exerted mild antiemetic activity with synergistic properties through muscarinic receptors.

Pediatric and Juvenile Strabismus Surgery Under General Anesthesia: Functional Outcomes and Safety

Background/Objectives: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the safety of surgical intervention using anesthesia and ophthalmological parameters in pediatric strabismus patients. The design involved retrospective case series. Methods: The setting was the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Vienna, Austria. Participants: In total, 208 children aged 0-18 years who underwent strabismus surgery due to exotropia or esotropia between 2013 and 2020 were included. Main outcomes and measures: Information regarding the duration of surgery, intra- and postoperative complications, the postoperative angle of deviation (AoD), and functional outcomes (visual acuity, stereovision) were analyzed. Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 6.0 ± 4.1 years (range 0.6-18.0). The mean anesthesia time among all patients was 75.9 ± 19.3 min. The mean surgery and anesthesia time did not differ between the age groups. Longer anesthesia durations and surgery durations did not have a significant effect on the occurrence of intraoperation complications (p = 0.610 and p = 0.190, respectively). Intraoperative complications were recorded in 53% (most frequent triggering of oculocardiac reflex (OCR)) of the patients, and postoperative complications in 22% (the most frequent were postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain). An OCR was triggered more often in children older than 6 years than in younger children (p = 0.016). The mean angle of deviation was significantly reduced from preoperative to postoperative measurements. Preoperative stereovision tests were positive in 35% of the patients and increased to over 80% postoperatively. Conclusions: Strabismus surgery performed under general anesthesia in children aged 0 to 18 years is safe with regard to both surgical and anesthetic complications. A significant decrease in the angle of deviation and high rate of stereovision could be achieved with a low rate of re-treatments. However, the retrospective design, absence of standardized documentation, and limited sample size may affect the consistency and comparability of this study's findings.

Clinical Impact of Specific Extraocular Muscle Manipulation and the Oculocardiac Reflex on Postoperative Vomiting in Pediatric Strabismus Surgery: A Multicenter, Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Strabismus surgery, which is commonly performed in children, poses a high risk of postoperative vomiting. The current anesthesia guidelines for the prevention of postoperative vomiting in children are based on heterogeneous populations involving different types of surgery, and risk factors for postoperative vomiting in, specifically, the pediatric strabismus surgery population are unclear. Moreover, the effects of manipulating the deeply attached extraocular muscles and the oculocardiac reflex on this risk remain inconclusive.

AIM

To evaluate the associations among inferior oblique muscle manipulation, the oculocardiac reflex, and postoperative vomiting in children with retrospectively collected data.

METHODS

The study had a multicenter retrospective cross-sectional design and was conducted at three institutions (two tertiary-care children's hospitals and one pediatric-adult mixed community hospital). It included children aged < 18 years and without major comorbidities undergoing strabismus surgery. The primary exposure was inferior oblique muscle manipulation during surgery. The outcome of interest was postoperative vomiting or antiemetic medication usage within 24 h postsurgery or by discharge.

RESULTS

Among 3152 children postoperative vomiting occurred in 108/795 (13.6%) children with and 227/2357 (9.6%) without inferior oblique muscle manipulation (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.05; p = 0.001). Multilevel logistic regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders and surgeon-related variance, revealed that inferior oblique muscle manipulation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.18; p = 0.005), but not the oculocardiac reflex (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.48; p = 0.73), was associated with postoperative vomiting after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Stronger preventive measures against postoperative vomiting are recommended in healthy children undergoing strabismus surgery with inferior oblique muscle manipulation. Additionally, inferior oblique muscle manipulation should be considered a potential confounder in future related studies. However, the oculocardiac reflex was not associated with postoperative vomiting in pediatric strabismus surgery.

Harm to a child caused by the off-label use of prochlorperazine maleate tablets due to the discontinuation of licensed prochlorperazine mesilate liquid in the UK

Prochlorperazine is a commonly used medicine to treat nausea and vomiting. The only liquid formulation in the UK was discontinued in November 2022 due to safety concerns. One alternative option available is to use crushed tablets instead. Crushing and mixing tablets in water to produce a liquid is a widespread practice in paediatrics. However, there is often little evidence to support this practice.In this case report, a patient established on liquid prochlorperazine mesilate who was switched to crushed prochlorperazine maleate tablets experienced significant harm. The child's vomiting became uncontrolled and led to multiple healthcare attendances and a prolonged hospital admission. Control was re-established by increasing the prochlorperazine dose to accommodate for loss of drug during preparation. Care should be taken when converting prochlorperazine mesilate liquid doses to crushed prochlorperazine maleate tablets, and the doses used should not be treated as equivalent.

Postoperative Pain Management in children: guidance from the Pain Committee of the European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesiology (ESPA Pain Management Ladder Initiative) Part II

The ESPA Pain Management Ladder Initiative is a clinical practice advisory based upon expert consensus supported by the current literature to help ensure a basic standard of perioperative pain management for all children. In 2018 the perioperative pain management of six common pediatric surgical procedures was summarised. The current Pain Management Ladder recommendations focus on five more complex pediatric surgical procedures and suggest basic, intermediate, and advanced pain management methods. The aim of this paper is to encourage best possible pain management practice and to support institutions to create their own pain management concepts according to their financial and human resources due to the diversity of clinical settings in Europe. Furthermore, the authors underline that these recommendations are intended for inpatients only.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatrics: Incidence and Guideline Adherence-a Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in pediatric patients is a common and clinically significant postoperative complication. The incidence of PONV has not been extensively studied in large pediatric cohorts. Furthermore, in 2020, the Fourth Consensus Guidelines for the management of PONV were published. However, the association between perioperative factors and adherence to these guidelines remains unclear. This study aims to assess both the incidence of PONV and guideline adherence within a large and diverse pediatric population.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study at a large tertiary medical center, including pediatric patients (≤18 years) who underwent surgery between September 2020 and March 2023. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from our electronic health records, focusing on patient demographics, surgical details, anesthesia details, and prophylaxis for PONV. We calculated the incidence of PONV and used multivariable logistic regression to identify the predictors of guideline adherence.

RESULTS

The cohort included 3772 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 9.21 (3.55-14.68) years. The incidence (95% confidence intervals) of early PONV was 1.0% (0.7-1.4) and 3.8% (3.2-4.5) for delayed PONV. Adherence to the fourth consensus guidelines for PONV management was observed in 32.5% (31.0-34.0) of cases. A high risk of PONV was identified in 55.9% (54.3-57.5) of the patients. The most common number of PONV risk factors was 3, observed in 1151 patients (30.5% [29.1-32.0]). Significant predictors of guideline adherence included the intraoperative use of long-acting opioids (odds ratio [OR], 2.711, P < .001) and age ≥3 years (OR, 2.074, P < .001). Nonadherence was associated with a higher incidence of PONV at 24 hours postsurgery (4.4% (3.6-5.2) vs 2.7% (1.9-3.8), P = .012). Factors such as specific high PONV risk surgeries (P = .001), maintenance with inhalational agents solely (P = .017), and neostigmine use (P < .001) were also all statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed a lower-than-expected incidence of PONV in pediatric patients, highlighting the need for standardized definitions and improved reporting. Adherence to PONV guidelines was suboptimal, emphasizing the need for better implementation strategies.

The use of intranasal sufentanil and/or s-ketamine for treatment of procedural pain in children in an ambulatory setting: A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Minor but painful medical procedures are often handled at the operating room. If safe and effective treatment options are available many procedures may be performed outside of the operating room.

OBJECTIVE(S)

The objective of this study is to assess the adverse events of intranasal s-ketamine and/or sufentanil alone or as part of a multimodal analgesic regime for medical procedures outside of the operating room. Secondary outcomes included analgesic effect, doses and indications for use.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary care paediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

Children 1 year up till 18 years.

INTERVENTION(S)

Intranasal (IN) sufentanil (S), intranasal s-ketamine (K) or the free combination of the two drugs (SK).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The frequency of adverse events including serious adverse events reported by intervention.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2014, 2185 medical procedures were registered, including 652 procedures with IN SK, 1469 procedures with IN S and 64 procedures with IN K. The children's median age was 5.6 years (range 1.0-17.9). Medical procedures with at least one adverse event were 18% with IN SK, 25% with IN K and 18% with IN S. Common adverse events included episodes of vomiting (9%), nausea (8%) and dizziness (3%). In two patients receiving IN S, serious adverse events occurred. One patient had respiratory depression and bronchospasm and another patient with cerebral palsy had a seizure. Both were handled immediately and did not result in any sequelae. The median doses of intranasal sufentanil were 38% lower when combined with s-ketamine (IN SK free combination: sufentanil dose 0.5 μg/kg (range 0.2-1.3) and s-ketamine dose 0.5 mg/kg (range 0.2-1.5). IN S monotherapy, sufentanil dose 0.8 μg/kg (range 0.2-2.7)). Similar analgesic effect was reported for S and SK.

CONCLUSIONS

Intranasal sufentanil and/or s-ketamine are feasible for the treatment of procedural pain in an ambulatory setting with appropriate per- and post-procedural observations and trained staff.

Evaluation of Postoperative Discomfort After Strabismus Surgery Under General Anesthesia in Children: A Prospective Observational Study

Purpose

Strabismus surgery is most commonly performed on children under general anesthesia. However, few studies have focused on the postoperative discomfort in children after strabismus surgery. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative discomfort and the associated risk factors in children who underwent strabismus surgery under general anesthesia.

Patients and Methods

A single-center prospective observational study including 300 children who underwent strabismus surgery after general anesthesia was conducted. Patients' characteristics, preoperative anxiety, surgical and anesthesia data, discomfort within 24 hours after postanesthesia care unit were recorded. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative discomfort.

Results

Approximately 51.33% of the children complained of at least one of the following types of postoperative discomfort: postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (23.00%), headache (4.33%), dizziness (20.33%) and emergence agitation (EA) (5.33%). Multivariate analysis indicated that history of motion sickness (P<0.001, odds ratio [OR]=3.72), and surgery in the dominant eye (P=0.010, OR=2.00) were independent predictors of postoperative discomfort; age was an independent predictor of EA (P<0.001, OR=0.36); prism diopter≥40 was an independent predictor of headache (P=0.005, OR=5.53); age (P=0.020, OR=1.12) and history of motion sickness (P=0.001, OR=2.80) were independent predictors of dizziness; history of motion sickness (P=0.001, OR=2.63) and surgery of inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) (P=0.004, OR=3.10) were independent predictors of PONV.

Conclusion

The most frequent postoperative symptoms in children after undergoing strabismus surgery under general anesthesia are PONV, dizziness, EA, and headache. Younger age, larger angle of strabismus, history of motion sickness, surgery on the dominant eye, and surgery of IOAT may be additional risk factors for postoperative discomfort.

ERCP-Related adverse events in pediatric patients: a 10-years single-site review

PURPOSE

This retrospective analysis aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in pediatric patients by examining ERCP-related adverse events (AEs) occurring over a decade at a single center.

METHODS

Pediatric patients under 18 years old who underwent ERCP at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 1/2013 to 11/2023 were included. ERCP-related AEs were defined according to ERCP-related adverse events: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline. Clinical data of patients experiencing ERCP-related AEs were obtained from electronic medical records for analysis.

RESULTS

Over the past decade, a total of 76 pediatric patients underwent 113 ERCP procedures, including 26 patients who underwent repeat ERCP, totaling 63 procedures. There were 32 males and 44 females, with a median age of 13 years (range 3 years and 5 months-17 years and 9 months). Among all ERCP procedures, 14 (12.4%) were diagnostic and 99 (87.6%) were therapeutic, with a 100% success rate. 16 cases (14.2%) of ERCP-related AEs, all post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), were observed, while no other AEs defined by ESGE such as bleeding, perforation, cholangitis, cholecystitis, or sedation-related events were noted. Additionally, 23 cases (20.4%) of ERCP-related AEs not included in the ESGE definition were observed, including post-ERCP abdominal pain in 20 cases (17.7%), post-ERCP nausea and vomiting in 2 cases (1.8%), and unplanned reoperation in 1 case (0.9%). In the 26 cases of pediatric patients who underwent repeat ERCP, we observed that AEs occurred in 15 cases (57.7%) during their initial ERCP, which was much higher than the overall average level.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-ERCP abdominal pain and PEP are the most common ERCP-related AEs in pediatric patients, while severe AEs such as bleeding and perforation are rare. The incidence of AEs after initial ERCP in pediatric patients who received repeat ERCP is higher than the overall average level. Based on our center's experience, we believe that ERCP can be safely performed in children over 3 years old with biliary and pancreatic diseases and obtain reliable clinical benefits. However, active monitoring and management of ERCP-related AEs are essential to improve the clinical outcomes of pediatric ERCP.

The effect of BIS-guided anaesthesia on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in children: a prospective randomized double-blind study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a significant problem following paediatric surgery, and volatile anaesthetics are an important cause of this phenomenon. BIS-guided anaesthesia, by reducing the consumption of anaesthetics, leads to a decrease in PONV in adult patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the role of BIS-guided anaesthesia in reducing the incidence of paediatric PONV.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

SETTING

A single center study in university hospital in Czech republic, from June 2021 to November 2022.

PATIENTS

A total of 163 children, aged 3-8 years with ASA I-II who underwent endoscopic adenoidectomy under general anaesthesia were included.

INTERVENTIONS

In the intervention group, the depth of anaesthesia was maintained to values between 40 and 60 of BIS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting during 24 h after surgery.

RESULTS

The use of BIS-guided anaesthesia led to a significant decrease in the incidence of nausea and vomiting compared to the control group [17% vs. 53%; RR (95%CI) 0.48 (0.27-0.86); p < 0.001and 16% vs. 34%; RR (95%CI) 0.33 (0.20-0.54); p = 0.01, respectively].

CONCLUSIONS

BIS-guided anaesthesia decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in children undergoing adenoidectomy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04466579.

The Maxillary Nerve Block in Cleft Palate Care: A Review of the Literature and Expert's Opinion on the Preferred Technique of Administration

INTRODUCTION

Although the maxillary nerve block (MNB) provides adequate pain relief in cleft palate surgery, it is not routinely used globally, and reported techniques are heterogeneous. This study aims to describe relevant anatomy and to present the preferred technique of MNB administration based on the current literature and the expert opinion of the authors.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

First, a survey was sent to 432 registrants of the International Cleft Palate Master Course Amsterdam 2023. Second, MEDLINE (PubMed interface) was searched for relevant literature on maxillary artery (MA) anatomy and MNB administration in pediatric patients.

RESULTS

Survey response rate was 18% (n=78). Thirty-five respondents (44.9%) used MNB for cleft palate surgery before the course. A suprazygomatic approach with needle reorientation towards the ipsilateral commissure before incision was most frequently reported, mostly without the use of ultrasound. Ten and 20 articles were included on, respectively, MA anatomy and MNB administration. A 47.5% to 69.4% of the MA's run superficial to the lateral pterygoid muscle and 32% to 52.5% medially. The most frequently described technique for MNB administration is the suprazygomatic approach. Reorientation of the needle towards the anterior aspect of the contralateral tragus appears optimal. Needle reorientation angles do not have to be adjusted for age, unlike needle depth. The preferred anesthetics are either ropivacaine or (levo)bupivacaine, with dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant.

CONCLUSION

Described MNB techniques are heterogeneous throughout the literature and among survey respondents and not routinely used. Further research is required comparing different techniques regarding efficacy and safety.

The Association of Guideline-Directed Prophylaxis with Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis in pediatric patients recommend escalation of the number of antiemetics based on a preoperative estimate of PONV risk. These recommendations have been translated into performance metrics, most notably by the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG), used at over 25 children's hospitals. The impact of this approach on clinical outcomes is not known.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, retrospective study of pediatric general anesthetic cases from 2018 to 2021. PONV risk factors were defined using MPOG definitions: age ≥3 years, volatile use ≥30 minutes, PONV history, long-acting opioids, female ≥12 years, and high-risk procedure. Adequate prophylaxis was defined using the MPOG PONV-04 metric: 1 agent for 1 risk factor, 2 agents for 2 risk factors, and 3 agents for 3+ risk factors. PONV was defined as documented postoperative nausea/emesis or administration of a rescue antiemetic. Given the nonrandomized allocation of adequate prophylaxis, we used Bayesian binomial models with propensity score weighting.

RESULTS

A total of 14,747 cases were included, with PONV in 11% (9% adequate prophylaxis versus 12% inadequate). Overall, there was evidence for reduced incidence of PONV with adequate prophylaxis: weighted median odds ratio 0.82 (95% credible interval, 0.66-1.02; probability of benefit, 0.97) and weighted marginal absolute risk reduction 1.3% (-0.1% to 3.1%). In unweighted estimates, there was an interaction between sum of risk factors and the association of adequate prophylaxis with PONV, with reduced incidence in patients with 1 to 2 risk factors (probability of benefit 0.96 and 0.95) but increased incidence in patients with 3+ risk factors receiving adequate prophylaxis (probability of benefit 0, 0.01, and 0.03 for 3, 4, and 5 risk factors). This was attenuated by weighting, with persistent benefit in 1 to 2 risk factors (probability of benefit 0.90 and 0.94) but equalization of risk in 3+ risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Guideline-directed PONV prophylaxis is inconsistently associated with incidence of PONV across the guideline-defined risk spectrum. This phenomenon, and its attenuation with weighting, is consistent with 2 points: dichotomous risk-factor summation ignores differential effects of individual components, and prognostic information might exist beyond these risk factors. PONV risk at a given sum of risk factors is not homogeneous, but rather is determined by the unique composition of risk factors and other prognostic attributes. These differences appear to have been identified by clinicians, prompting use of more antiemetics. Even after accounting for these differences, however, addition of a third agent did not further reduce risk.

Agony of Choice: Caudal Block versus Ilioinguinal/Iliohypogastric Nerve Block in Unilateral Orchidopexy

Objective: This prospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of caudal block (CB) and ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve block (IINB) for providing additional analgesia during unilateral orchidopexy. Methods: Seventy-one boys aged <48 months, classified as ASA I/II, were assigned into CB (n = 37) and IINB (n = 34) groups. Outcome measures included intra- and postoperative analgesic requirements, pain scores, and administration duration. Additional intraoperative analgesia was administered for a 10% increase in heart rate, while postoperative pain was assessed using the Children's and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS), with scores >4 prompting supplementary analgesia. Monitoring was extended for 24 h post-surgery. Results: CB significantly reduced the need for intraoperative (p < 0.001) and early postoperative (p = 0.008) analgesia compared to IINB. However, the CB group exhibited a slightly higher but non-significant analgesic requirement on the ward. No clinically relevant side effects were observed in either group. Conclusions: Both CB and IINB are effective and safe methods for providing regional analgesia during orchidopexy. CB demonstrates superior efficacy intraoperatively and in the early postoperative period, while IINB may offer advantages in the later recovery phase. However, additional analgesia is often required for orchidopexy, especially in outpatient settings.

The effect of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia versus sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on emergence delirium in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background: Remimazolam, a new ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, is becoming increasingly applied in general anesthesia. This study is designed to investigate the effect of remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia and sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on emergence delirium in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Methods and analysis: This is a monocentric, prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 90 pediatric patients will be randomized to receive remimazolam-based total intravenous anesthesia (remimazolam group, n = 45) or sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia (sevoflurane group, n = 45). The primary outcome will be the incidence of emergence delirium, which will be evaluated using the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The secondary outcomes include the extubation time, recovery time, behavior change using the post-hospitalization behavior questionnaire for ambulatory surgery (PHBQ-AS), and adverse events. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (2023-K-262-02). Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06214117.

Perceived Barriers to Administration of Aromatherapy in Nurses Caring for Pediatric Patients With Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: An Evidence-based Practice Project

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is prevalent among surgical patients, causing hospitalizations, extended stays, and patient dissatisfaction. Children are twice as likely to experience PONV than adult patients. Complementary therapy holds promise for PONV treatment but meets clinical use barriers. We explored perioperative nurses' perceived barriers to the use of complementary aromatherapy.

METHOD

Presurvey and postsurveys assessed nurses' (n = 27) knowledge and barriers to aromatherapy use before and after an educational in-service.

RESULTS

Primary PONV treatment involved antiemetics. Barriers to aromatherapy included product availability, caregiver refusal, and patient-specific factors. Post-in-service, the nurses felt more familiar with aromatherapy and inclined to use it.

DISCUSSION

Increased education and guidelines on aromatherapy promote its incorporation into clinical practice. Institutional policies addressing the selection, administration, documentation, and monitoring of aromatherapy should be established to ensure the consistency and standardization of its use.

Day-case otology: Special attention to the pediatric cochlear implantation procedure

OBJECTIVE

Assess the feasibility of cochlear implantation as day-surgery in children and identify variables influencing admission, readmission, and unplanned postoperative consultation.

METHODS

This retrospective observational monocentric study was conducted according to the STROBE recommendations. Between January 2017 and July 2022, all medical records of children who underwent cochlear implantation were analyzed. Eligible children were admitted for the first time to the pediatric day-surgery unit. Exclusion criteria were children planned for inpatient procedure, bilateralization or explantation-reimplantation. Sex assigned at birth, analgesic medication, anesthesia and complications were related to categorical variables. Age, duration of anesthesia, length of stay and ASA score were related to continuous variables.

RESULTS

We included 66 children from a total of 106. Mean age was 53 months [SD: 46 months, range 8-184 months]. Successful day-surgery management was observed in 86% of cases. In 14% of cases, children were admitted to the pediatric ENT unit for the following reasons: late awakening in 6%, non-controlled pain in 4.5%, postoperative nausea and vomiting in 3.5% of cases. Univariate analysis did not observe any factor promoting success of day-surgery regarding anesthetic agents. Age was not statistically significant as a factor of ambulatory failure. Time spent in the operating room was not a determining factor (p = 0.559). None of the children were rehospitalized. Early unplanned consultations were observed in 3% of cases for vertex edema in 1 case and uncomplicated otorrhea in 1 case.

CONCLUSION

This study adds to the knowledge on pediatric cochlear implantation and suggests that this procedure is suitable for day-surgery at any age.

Post-operative vomiting after pediatric strabismus surgery: A comparison of propofol versus sevoflurane anaesthesia

Background and Aims

Squint surgery is a risk factor for postoperative vomiting (POV) in children. This study was designed to compare the incidence of POV in children undergoing strabismus surgery under balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane versus intravenous anesthesia with propofol.

Material and Methods

In this prospective randomized controlled study conducted in a tertiary care ophthalmology hospital, 70 ASA I-II children aged 1-12 years undergoing strabismus surgery were randomized to two groups -Group S (sevoflurane-based anesthesia) and Group P (propofol-based anesthesia) for maintenance. The surgical details, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, recovery characteristics, and emergence delirium were recorded. Any episode of postoperative vomiting in the 0-2 hours, 2-6 hours, and 6-24 hours period was noted. Rescue antiemetic was administered if there was more than one episode of vomiting.

Results

Both the groups were similar with respect to demographic and surgical details. The average duration of surgery was 118.2 ± 41.88 min in group S and 137.32 ± 39.09 min in group P (P = .05). Four children in group S (11.4%) and one child in group P (2.9%) had POV in the first 24 hours but this was not statistically significant (P = .36). The median time to discharge from post anesthesia care unit was significantly less (P = .02) in the P group (50 min) than in the S group (60 min).

Conclusion

Propofol-based anesthesia does not offer advantage over sevoflurane, in reducing POV after squint surgery, when dual prophylaxis with dexamethasone and ondansetron is administered. It, however, reduces the duration of stay in the post anesthesia care unit.

Supplemental low-dose esketamine to propofol versus propofol alone on perioperative characteristics in children undergoing surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist regarding the use of the esketamine-propofol combination (esketofol) in pediatric surgery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of esketofol versus propofol alone on the perioperative characteristics of children undergoing minor surgery.

METHODS

Eighty-four children aged two to six years were randomly assigned to either the propofol group or the esketofol group. Intraoperative outcomes included bispectral index, dosage of anesthetics, and extubation time. Postoperative outcomes comprised oropharyngeal airway usage, time to orientation, time to eye-opening, length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit, the need for rescue opioids, pain rating using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Scale, Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Score, nausea and vomiting, and psychotomimetic symptoms. The FLACC pain score was the primary outcome, and the remaining parameters were considered secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

The FLACC Score (2 [1, 3.3] vs. 4 [3, 5.3], P<0.001) and frequency of rescue opioids (14.3% vs. 33.3%, P=0.040) were significantly lower, while Bispectral Index (BIS) was higher (P<0.001) in the esketofol group compared with the propofol group. Moreover, the time to orientation and length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) were significantly longer in the esketofol group compared with the propofol group (P=0.029 and P=0.025, respectively). The other outcomes were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Esketofol reduces postoperative pain and the need for rescue opioids, but it extends recovery time in the PACU and increases BIS without affecting other outcomes.

Jelly snakes to reduce early postoperative vomiting in children after adenotonsillectomy: The randomized controlled snakes trial

BACKGROUND

Despite the use of dual antiemetic agents, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in an unacceptably large number of patients post-tonsillectomy. There has been increased interest in alternative and non-pharmacological treatments for PONV e.g., chewing gum. We investigated if chewing a large confectionary jelly snake had prophylactic antiemetic effects postoperatively in young children.

METHODS

Prospective, open-label randomised controlled trial of 240 patients, 2-16 years. Patients administered a confectionary jelly snake to chew postoperatively were compared with a control group. The primary outcome was the number of episodes of vomiting within 6 h of the operation on an intention-to-treat basis.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

incidence of nausea, vomiting at 6 and 24 h, rescue antiemetic use, acceptability, delayed discharge.

RESULTS

233 patients were randomised to receive the confectionary snake (snake group, 118) or standard care (control group, 115). The number of vomiting episodes in 6 h was similar between groups on an intention-to-treat basis, with 39 episodes across 22 (19%) patients in the control group and 31 across 19 (16%) patients in the snake group (p = 0.666). From post anaesthetic care unit until 24 h there was no difference in doses of antiemetics or delayed discharge due to PONV. A secondary as per protocol analysis did not change this result.

CONCLUSIONS

Chewing of confectionery jelly snakes within one hour of waking following adenotonsillectomy with vapour-maintained anaesthesia and two prophylactic antiemetics did not further reduce the incidence of early vomiting.

REGISTRATION

prospective registration at the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000637246).

The Effect of Distraction Techniques on Pain, Fear, and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Circumcision: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Circumcision is a common pediatric operation, and distraction technique can be used as an adjunct analgesic method during the perioperative period. The study aims to explore the effect of distraction techniques on reducing pain, fear, and anxiety in children undergoing circumcision. The PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Embase databases were searched for articles published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Meta-analysis and forest plots were carried out using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and outcomes were reviewed by two authors independently. We used the Risk of Bias assessment form (ROB2) developed by the Cochrane Collaboration to assess the quality of included studies. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used in this article to achieve the quantitative and qualitative synthesis of data. A total of seven RCTs were included. The intervention group consisted of 417 patients, while the control group had 245 patients. The meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis results showed that the distraction technique could significantly relieve pain (MD -1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-1.61 to -0.99], p < .00001), fear (SMD -1.04, 95%CI -1.68 to -0.4, p = .001), and anxiety (SMD -1.07, 95%CI [-1.64 to -0.51], p = .0002). Similarly, therapeutic play significant could significantly relieve fear (MD -0.4, 95%CI [-0.71 to -0.1], p = .01) and anxiety (SMD -1.31, 95%CI [-2.59 to -0.04], p = .04), virtual reality (VR) could significantly relieve anxiety (SMD -0.67, 95%CI [-0.98 to -0.37], p < .0001). Distraction techniques can alleviate perioperative pain, fear, and anxiety in children undergoing circumcision.

Effects of Videos and Therapeutic Music on Preoperative Anxiety and Postoperative Anxiety and Pain Levels in Boys Who Undergo Circumcision

PURPOSE

This purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of having boys aged 5 to 10 years who will undergo circumcision surgery watch informative videos and listen to therapeutic music on preoperative anxiety, and postoperative anxiety, pain, and nausea and vomiting.

DESIGN

This was a prospective and ranomized controlled study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 90 boys aged 5 to 10 years who underwent circumcision surgery. The boys included in the study were randomly divided into 3 groups of 30 using a computer program. The first group (group V) watched the video; the second group (group M) listened to the music, and the third group (group C) was the control group with usual care. Boys and their parents were not blinded to the grouping.

FINDINGS

Heart rate.ßvalues were found to be statistically significantly lower compared to the control group at the 1st minute after local anesthesia in group V (P.ß=.ß.029), at the 5th minute after local anesthesia in group M (P.ß=.ß.030), and at the 10th minute after local anesthesia and after the surgery in both group V and group M (P.ß=.ß.001 and P.ß=.ß.010, respectively). Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale.ßscores of the control group measured at the 2nd postoperative hour were found to be significantly higher than those of group V (P.ß=.ß.018). Children's Fear Scale.ßscores of group V measured at the time of admission to the postoperative service were found to be significantly higher than those of group M and group C (P.ß<.ß.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of additional analgesic use, nausea and vomiting percentages, and time to discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study revealed that having boys aged 5 to 10 years who will undergo circumcision surgery watch informative videos and listen to therapeutic music did not have any significant effect on their postoperative pain, fear, and anxiety levels. Further large-scale studies, which will also include children who will not undergo circumcision surgery, are needed to generalize this study's results to larger populations.

Is PONV still a problem in pediatric surgery: a prospective study of what children tell us

Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an unpleasant complication after surgery that commonly co-occurs with pain. Considering the high prevalence among pediatric patients, it is important to explore the main risk factors leading to PONV in order to optimize treatment strategies. The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to determine the prevalence of PONV on the day of surgery by conducting interviews with pediatric patients, (2) to assess PONV prevalence in the recovery room and on the ward by analyzing nursing records, and (3) to collect information on PONV risk factors on the day of surgery and the following postoperative days. We wanted to investigate real-life scenarios rather than relying on artificially designed studies.

Methods

A prospective analysis [according to STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines] of PONV on the day of surgery and the following postoperative days was conducted by evaluating demographic and procedural parameters, as well as conducting interviews with the children under study. A total of 626 children and adolescents, ranging in age from 4 to 18 years, were interviewed on the ward following their surgery. The interviews were conducted using a questionnaire, as children aged 4 and above can participate in an outcome-based survey.

Results

On the day of surgery, several multivariable independent predictors were identified for PONV. The type of surgery was found to be a significant factor (p = 0.040) with the highest odds ratio (OR) in patients with procedural investigations [OR 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8-19.2], followed by abdominal surgery (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 0.9-11.1) when inguinal surgery was used as the reference category. In addition, the study identified several predictors, including the amount of fentanyl administered during anesthesia (µg/kg body weight) (OR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8), intraoperative use of piritramide (OR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.5-4.4) and diclofenac (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1. 3-3.1), opioid administration in the recovery room (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.9-4.7), and piritramide use on the ward (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.7-11.6).

Conclusions

The main risk factors for PONV include the intraoperative administration of opioids during the recovery room stay and at the ward, the intraoperative use of non-opioids (diclofenac), and the specific type of surgical procedure. Real-life data demonstrated that in clinical praxis, there is a gap between the adherence to established guidelines and the use of antiemetic prophylaxis in surgeries that are generally not associated with a high PONV prevalence. Further efforts are needed to improve the existing procedures and thus improve the overall outcome.

Opioid stewardship and perioperative management of pediatric tympanoplasty

OBJECTIVE

To provide insight into the intraoperative management, admission course, pain management, and graft success of microscope- and endoscope-assisted tympanoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective Chart Review.

METHODS

This study included children 18 years and younger who underwent ambulatory tympanoplasty at a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 2018 and December 2020. Medical records were reviewed and information about intraoperative factors, surgical approach, laterality, complications, and post-operative perforation closure success rates was collected. Multivariate analysis was performed to compare and contrast the two surgical approaches.

RESULTS

The review included 321 pediatric patients who underwent a tympanoplasty. Endoscopic tympanoplasty accounted for 17.4%, while microscopic tympanoplasty accounted for 82.6%. In both approaches, the rate of intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, audiological improvements, and perforation closure success rates were statistically similar. However, patients who underwent endoscopic tympanoplasty were 3.96 times less likely to require opioids in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and had a shorter post-operative admission length. This pattern emerged regardless of the type of graft used. Obtaining an autograft was not associated with a higher opioid requirement in the PACU.

CONCLUSION

While both approaches are viable, our findings demonstrate the reduced need for opioids with similar success rates following an endoscopic tympanoplasty. Ultimately, the trade-off for the minimally invasive endoscopic approach appears to be a less painful experience for the child while promoting clinically appropriate opioid stewardship in the perioperative setting.

Research hotspots and trends on acupuncture therapy on vomiting from 1990 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis

OBJECTIVES

Acupuncture treatment (AT) is commonly utilized for vomiting; however, limited bibliometric analyses exist in this area. Employing a bibliometric approach, we conducted a comprehensive review spanning three decades to assess the research landscape, advancements, and emerging trends in AT for vomiting.

METHODS

We collected the related literature data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) from 1990 to 2022. VOSviewer and R studio were used to perform the bibliometric analysis of AT on vomiting. The status of authors, countries, affiliations, annual publications, keywords, and journals were analyzed accordingly.

RESULTS

The earliest relevant paper was published in 1990. Streitberger, K was the most productive author (7 records) and had significant influence (225 reference times, H-Index = 7). The United States had the highest publication count (224 records) and received the most recognition (9719 reference times, H-Index = 52). MEDICINE had the highest number of outputs (34 records), while ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA was the most cited journal (1045 reference times). The institution with the most works was Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM) (13 records), and the University of California, Los Angeles received the most citations (1252 reference times). Recent and future research hotspots included AT for postoperative vomiting and post-chemotherapy vomiting. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were the predominant study types.

CONCLUSIONS

The current status and development prospects of AT for vomiting are shown in this study. In addition, this article provides valuable ideas and potential directions for future research activities.

Postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) in children: A review and observational study

Postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) cause substantial pediatric morbidity with potentially serious postoperative complications. However, few studies have addressed PDNV prevention and treatment in pediatric patients. Here we searched the literature and processed it in a narrative review describing PDNV incidence, risk factors, and management in pediatric patients.. A successful strategy for reducing PDNV considers both the pharmacokinetics of the antiemetic agents and the principle of multimodal prophylaxis, utilizing agents of different pharmacologic classes. Since many highly effective antiemetic agents have relatively short half-lives, a different approach must be used to prevent PDNV. A combination of oral and intravenous medications with longer half-lives, such as palonosetron or aprepitant, can be used. In addition, we designed a prospective observational study with the primary objective of determining PDNV incidence. In our study group of 205 children, the overall PDNV incidence was 14.6% (30 of 205), including 21 children suffering from nausea and 9 suffering from vomiting.

Impact of intravenous dexamethasone on the initiation and recovery of atracurium in children: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic steroid intake has been associated with attenuation of neuromuscular block. Despite some promising animal and adult studies, the effect of a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone on neuromuscular blockers is not well established. Thus, the present study aimed to demonstrate the effect of dexamethasone given at the time of induction for the prevention of PONV on the action of neuromuscular blockers in children undergoing elective surgery.

METHOD

After obtaining approval from the Institute Ethics Committee and written informed parental consent, 100 ASA I and II children aged 4-15 years undergoing elective surgery randomized to receive either: 0.15 mg/kg (maximum of 5 mg) of dexamethasone diluted to a total volume of 2 ml with 0.9% saline (n = 50) or 2 ml of 0.9% saline (n = 50) at the time of induction. The time interval between application of atracurium and maximum T1 depression, 25% twitch height recovery of T1, amid 25% and 75% twitch height recovery of T1, amid the 25% twitch height recovery of T1 and recovery of the neuromuscular block to a TOF ratio of 0.9, and in between the initiation of atracurium injection till the recovery of the neuromuscular block to a TOF ratio of 0.9 was defined as onset time, clinical duration, recovery index, recovery time, and total recovery period, respectively, and recorded.

RESULTS

The onset time and recovery index time were lower (1.96 ± 0.39, 8.04 ± 2.14, respectively) with dexamethasone in comparison with saline (2.01 ± 0.51, 8.9 ± 3.4, respectively) but not statistically significant. The clinical duration, recovery time, and total recovery period were similar.

CONCLUSION

Application of a single bolus dose (0.15 mg/kg) of dexamethasone during induction does not attenuate atracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in children.

[Postoperative nausea and vomiting-recommendations for its prevention and therapy in paediatric medicine]

Post-operative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV/POV) are among the biggest problems occurring in the paediatric recovery room and in the course of the following post-operative period. Apart from pain and emergence delirium, PONV is one of the main causes of post-operative discomfort in children. The DGAI Scientific Working Group on Paediatric Anaesthesia already worked out recommendations for the prevention and treatment of PONV in children years ago. These recommendations have now been revised by a team of experts, the current literature has been reviewed, and evidence-based core recommendations have been consented. Key elements of the new recommendations consist of effective individual measures for prevention and therapy, next to the implementation of a fixed dual prophylaxis in the clinical routine applicable to all children ≥ 3 years of age.

Alterations and diagnostic performance of capillary ketonemia in pediatric acute appendicitis: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION

The diagnostic performance of capillary ketonemia (CK) has been previously evaluated in context of pediatric acute gastroenteritis. To our knowledge, there is no literature on its performance in the setting of pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 151 patients were prospectively included and divided into two groups: (1) patients with non-surgical abdominal pain in whom the diagnosis of PAA was excluded (n = 53) and (2) patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PAA (n = 98). In 80 patients (Group 1, n = 23 and group 2, n = 57) a CK was measured at the time of diagnosis. The PAA group was further classified into complicated (n = 18) and uncomplicated PAA (n = 39). Quantitative variables were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test. Diagnostic performance of CK was evaluated with ROC curves.

RESULTS

CK values were 0.3 [0.1-0.9] mmol/L in group 1 and 0.7 [0.4-1.4] mmol/L in group 2 (p = 0.01). Regarding the type of PAA, CK values were 0.6 [0.4-0.9] mmol/L in uncomplicated PAA and 1.2 [0.8-1.4] mmol/L in complicated PAA (p = 0.02). The AUC for the discrimination between groups 1 and 2 was 0.68 (95% IC 0.53-0.82) (p = 0.24) and the AUC for the discrimination between uncomplicated PAA and complicated PAA was 0.69 (95% IC 0.54-0.85) (p = 0.04). The best cut-off point (group 1 vs group 2) resulted in 0.4 mmol/L, with a sensitivity of 80.7% and a specificity of 52.2%. The best cut-off point (non-complicated vs complicated PAA) resulted in 1.1 mmol/L, with a sensitivity of 61.1% and a specificity of 76.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found significantly higher levels of CK in patients with PAA than in those with NSAP. Similarly, significantly higher levels were observed in patients with complicated than in those with uncomplicated PAA. Nevertheless, the diagnostic performance of CK was only moderate in the two settings analyzed. The potential usefulness of CK determination as a tool to guide the preoperative rehydration regimen of patients with PAA to prevent postoperative hyporexia and vomiting is a promising line of research and should be evaluated in future studies.

Pediatric robotic surgery: issues in management-expert consensus from the Italian Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SARNePI) and the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP)

BACKGROUND

Pediatric robotic-assisted surgeries have increased in recent years; however, guidance documents are still lacking. This study aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations, or best practice statements when evidence is lacking or inadequate, to assist surgical teams internationally.

METHODS

A joint consensus taskforce of anesthesiologists and surgeons from the Italian Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia and Intensive Care (SARNePI) and the Italian Society of Pediatric Surgery (SICP) have identified critical areas and reviewed the available evidence. The taskforce comprised 21 experts representing the fields of anesthesia (n = 11) and surgery (n = 10) from clinical centers performing pediatric robotic surgery in the Italian cities of Ancona, Bologna, Milan, Naples, Padua, Pavia, Perugia, Rome, Siena, and Verona. Between December 2020 and September 2021, three meetings, two Delphi rounds, and a final consensus conference took place.

RESULTS

During the first planning meeting, the panel agreed on the specific objectives, the definitions to apply, and precise methodology. The project was structured into three subtopics: (i) preoperative patient assessment and preparation; (ii) intraoperative management (surgical and anesthesiologic); and (iii) postoperative procedures. Within these phases, the panel agreed to address a total of 18 relevant areas, which spanned preoperative patient assessment and patient selection, anesthesiology, critical care medicine, respiratory care, prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and pain management.

CONCLUSION

Collaboration among surgeons and anesthesiologists will be increasingly important for achieving safe and effective RAS procedures. These recommendations will provide a review for those who already have relevant experience and should be particularly useful for those starting a new program.

Effect of scalp nerve block with ropivacaine on postoperative pain in pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy: A randomized controlled trial

Background

Scalp nerve block (SNB) is widely used for postoperative pain control, intraoperative hemodynamic control, and opioid-sparing in adult craniotomies. However, there are few studies of SNB in pediatric patients undergoing craniotomy. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of SNB on postoperative pain, intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and narcotic consumption in pediatric craniotomy under general anesthesia.

Methods

This trial is a single-center, prospective, randomized, and double-blind study. A total of 50 children aged between 2 and 12 years who are undergoing elective brain tumor surgery will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 0.2% ropivacaine for SNB (group SNB, intervention group, n = 25) or the same volume of saline (group Ctrl, control group, n = 25). The primary outcome was to assess the score of postoperative pain intensity at time 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively using the FLACC score method. Secondary outcomes were to record intraoperative hemodynamic variables (MAP and HR) during skull-pin fixation, skin incision and end of skin closure, intraoperative total consumption of remifentanil and propofol, postoperative opioid consumption, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Results

Fifty patients were analyzed (n = 25 in SNB group; n = 25 in control group). Compared to the control group, postoperative pain intensity was significantly relieved in the SNB group up to 8 h post-operatively. In addition, SNB provided good intraoperative hemodynamic stability, reduced intraoperative overall propofol and remifentanil consumption rate, and postoperative fentanyl consumption compared to the control group. However, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was not different between SNB and the control group.

Conclusions

In pediatric craniotomies, SNB with 0.2% ropivacaine provides adequate postoperative pain control and good intraoperative hemodynamic stability during noxious events compared to the control group.

Clinical trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry [No: ChiCTR2100050594], Prospective registration.

Error traps in acute pain management in children

Providing effective acute pain management to hospitalized children can help improve outcomes, decrease length of stay, and increase patient and parental satisfaction. Error traps (circumstances that lead to erroneous actions or undesirable consequences) can result in inadequately controlled pain, unnecessary side effects, and adverse events. This article highlights five error traps encountered when managing acute pain in children. They include failure to appropriately assess pain, optimally utilize regional anesthesia, select suitable systemic analgesics, identify and treat medication-related side effects, and consider patient characteristics when choosing medication or dosing route. These issues are easily addressed when the clinician is cognizant of ways to anticipate, identify, and mitigate or avoid these errors.

Ultrasound-guided Bilateral Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Ear Reconstruction after Costal Cartilage Harvest: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Costal cartilages harvest for ear reconstruction is accompanied by severe pain in chest. However, there is no perfect solution for reducing this chest pain.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the efficacy and safety of analgesia using ultrasound-guided bilateral serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in children receiving costal cartilage harvest for ear reconstruction.

METHODS

Sixty children undergoing ear reconstruction using costal cartilage were randomized to an SAPB group (SAPB with 3 mg/kg 0.25% ropivacaine) or an incision infiltration (II) group (II with 3 mg/kg 0.75% ropivacaine), and 29 in each group completed the study. All children received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). The primary outcomes were numerical rating scale (NRS) scores of pain while rest and coughing at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes were sufentanil use within 24 h, duration of analgesia, use of oral rescue analgesics, first time out of bed, and incidence of treatment-related adverse effects.

RESULTS

The SAPB group had lower rest and coughing NRS scores at 6 and 12 h after surgery (all P < 0.001), but the scores were similar at other times. The SAPB group used less sufentanil within 24 h, but had a longer duration of analgesia (both P < 0.001). The II group used more oral rescue analgesics within 48 h, had a longer time until first time out of bed, and had more opioid-related side effects (all P < 0.01). There were no SAPB-related complications.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided SAPB can provide safe and effective regional pain relief after costal cartilage harvest for ear reconstruction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266 .

The Safety of Propofol Versus Sevoflurane for General Anesthesia in Children: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Propofol and sevoflurane are the most used anesthetics for pediatric surgery. Emergence agitation, postoperative nausea and vomiting and postoperative pain are the primary adverse effect of these general anesthetics. Many clinical studies had compared the safety of propofol and sevoflurane in pediatric surgery, but the results were controversial.

Objectives

To evaluate the evidence surrounding the safety of propofol versus sevoflurane for general anesthesia in children.

Methods

Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and Vip Data were searched to collect relevant articles. Trials were strictly selected according to previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analyses.

Results

Twenty randomized controlled trials recruiting 1,550 children for general anesthesia were included, with overall low-moderate methodological quality. There was evidence that compared with sevoflurane anesthesia, propofol anesthesia significantly decreased the incidence of emergence agitation (OR = 4.99, 95% CI, 3.67–6.80; P &lt; 0.00001), postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR = 1.91, 95% CI, 1.27–2.87; P  =  0.002) and postoperative pain (OR = 1.72, 95% CI, 1.11–2.64; P = 0.01) in children. However, patients who received sevoflurane tended to have shorter times to eye opening (MD = −2.58, 95% CI, −2.97– −2.19; P &lt; 0.00001) and times to extubation (MD = −1.42, 95% CI, −1.81– −1.02; P &lt; 0.00001).

Conclusions

This review reveals that the children who received propofol anesthesia had the lower risks of emergence agitation, postoperative nausea and vomiting and postoperative pain when compared with sevoflurane anesthesia. But the children who received sevoflurane recovered slightly faster than those received propofol. Considering the limitations of the included studies, better methodological quality and large controlled trials are expected to further quantify the safety of propofol and sevoflurane for general anesthesia in children.

Effect of Remifentanil on Postoperative Vomiting After Strabismus Surgery in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Strabismus surgery and the use of opioid are risk factors of postoperative vomiting. We evaluated whether there is a dose-dependent effect of remifentanil on the incidence of postoperative vomiting.

Methods

Sixty pediatric patients who were scheduled for strabismus surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into three groups; Group H (high-dose remifentanil group), Group L (low-dose remifentanil group), and Group C (control group). After endotracheal intubation, patients in the Group H and L received an intravenous bolus dose of remifentanil of 1.0 μg/kg and 0.5 μg/kg over 2 min, respectively. Group H and L patients received a continuous infusion of remifentanil (0.1 μg/kg/min) during the surgery. The patients in Group C did not have any dose of remifentanil. Intravenous fentanyl (1 µg/kg) was administered to the patients for postoperative pain control.

Results

The primary outcome was a difference of the incidence of postoperative vomiting within 24 hours after surgery. There was no significant difference in incidence of postoperative vomiting between three groups. The degree of emergence agitation and postoperative pain did not show any significant difference between three groups.

Conclusions

The intraoperative administration of remifentanil did not show dose-dependent effect on postoperative vomiting in pediatric strabismus surgery.

Adverse Events during Vitreoretinal Surgery under Adequacy of Anesthesia Guidance—Risk Factor Analysis

Vitreoretinal surgeries require the administration of general anesthesia (GA) in selected groups of patients. The administration of intraoperative rescue narcotic analgesia (IRNA) during GA poses the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The surgical pleth index (SPI), a crucial component of the adequacy of anesthesia (AoA) guidance of GA, optimizes the intraoperative titration of IRNA. The current analysis evaluated the risk factors for the occurrence of PONV and the oculo-cardiac reflex (OCR) in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) under AoA guidance. In total, 175 patients undergoing PPV were randomly allocated to receive either GA with SPI-guided IRNA administration using fentanyl alone or in addition to different preoperative analgesia techniques. Any incidence of PONV or OCR was recorded. Obesity, overweight, smoking status, motion sickness, postoperative intolerable pain perception, female gender, fluid challenge and arterial hypertension did not correlate with an increased incidence of PONV or OCR under AoA guidance. Diabetes mellitus, regardless of insulin dependence, was found to correlate with the increased incidence of PONV. The AoA regimen including SPI guidance of IRNA presumably created similar conditions for individual subjects, so no risk factors of the occurrence of PONV or OCR were found, except for diabetes mellitus. We recommend using AoA guidance for GA administration to reduce OCR and PONV rates.