General anesthesia for pediatric dermatologic procedures: risks and complications.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and adverse events associated with the use of general anesthesia in children undergoing elective dermatologic procedures.


METHODS
A multicenter retrospective review.


METHODS
Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, Calif, and Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill.


METHODS
The study population comprised 269 children and adolescents ranging in age from 2 months to 18 years (881 procedures performed by 6 pediatric dermatologic and laser surgeons).


METHODS
The risk of an adverse event occurring during general anesthesia for pediatric dermatologic procedures.


RESULTS
The risk of general anesthesia in elective pediatric dermatologic procedures was low: 90% of patients experienced no clinically relevant complications. The most common clinically relevant adverse effect of general anesthesia was perioperative nausea and emesis, which was noted in 4% of patients. There were no serious life-threatening events noted, and the mortality rate was 0%.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of general anesthesia for dermatologic procedures in a children's hospital setting appears safe, with a low rate of complications.
Cunningham
Bari B
BB
Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, California 92123, USA. bcunningham@chsd.org
Gigler
Vishakha
V
Wang
Kim
K
Eichenfield
Lawrence F
LF
Friedlander
Sheila Fallon
SF
Garden
Jerome M
JM
McFarlane
Samantha
S
Faierman
Alvin
A
Wagner
Annette
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology