Anesthesia for neonatal surgical emergencies.
In this review of the anesthetic considerations for the neonate who requires anesthesia for emergency surgery, the authors discuss preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management from an anesthetic perspective. Monitoring the cardiorespiratory and metabolic status of neonates during anesthesia is usually difficult because the neonate is not physically accessible. Specific monitoring techniques that provide accurate measurements are discussed. General anesthesia is usually required for the surgery, the airway must be secured and anesthesia managed with a combination of inhalational and intravenous agents. Regional anesthesia and opioids may be included to decrease the intraoperative anesthetic requirements and prevent pain in the postoperative period. The pharmacology of specific anesthetic and adjuvant agents are discussed.
Mellor
D J
DJ
Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, and The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada.
Lerman
J
J
D000698:Analgesia; D000758:Anesthesia; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012119:Respiration; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
D000777:Anesthetics