Evaluation of the premature infant at risk for postoperative complications.
We reviewed anaesthetic records of 35 infants with a history of prematurity, who presented for elective herniorrhaphy. We applied a scoring system to help evaluate risk of postoperative complications. Six patients experienced postoperative complications. All six patients had a score of five or more and gave history of either apnoea or a history of moderate bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A preoperative history of apnoea and/or moderate bronchopulmonary dysplasia appear to be valuable markers for postoperative complications. A conceptual age of 40 weeks is an acceptable lower limit of age providing there is no history of apnoea or pulmonary disease.
Mayhew
J F
JF
Department of Anesthesiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock.
Bourke
D L
DL
Guinee
W S
WS
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012306:Risk