Pediatric anesthesia in dermatologic surgery: when hand-holding is not enough.
BACKGROUND
Dermatologic procedures in children may require the use of topical and local anesthetics, sedatives, and general anesthesia.


OBJECTIVE
To review developments in topical and local anesthetics, sedatives, and general anesthesia relevant to dermatologic procedures in children.


METHODS
Review of the medical literature.


RESULTS
Topical anesthetics, including EMLA and liposome-encapsulated lidocaine cream, amethocaine, cetacaine, and benzocaine products may be useful for decreasing the pain of cutaneous procedures including intra-lesional lidocaine infiltration. A variety of sedative and hypnotic agents may be utilized for pediatric dermatology procedures, and guidelines for their appropriate use have been published. General anesthesia for dermatologic procedures in the pediatric population is appropriate for a variety of procedures including laser treatment of capillary malformations.


CONCLUSIONS
A variety of anesthetic, analgesic, and sedatives may be useful for pediatric cutaneous surgery.
Chen
B K
BK
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA.
Eichenfield
L F
LF
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors
D000700:Analgesics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008012:Lidocaine