[Infections with respiratory syncytial virus. Underestimated risk during anaesthesia in infants].
Infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are responsible for a large proportion of seasonal winter airway diseases. After an infection with RSV no persistent immunity remains. Adults show no or only a few symptoms similar to the common cold. However, in preterm and newborn children RSV infections lead to severe and even life-threatening bronchiolitis. These children require supplementary oxygen and often need respiratory support. The infection with RSV considerably enhances the risk of anaesthesia-related complications in infants. So far this problem has rarely been mentioned in the literature. We report on an infant with a RSV infection who was ventilation-dependent for 9 days after anaesthesia for a minor intervention.
Wörner
J
J
Institut für Anästhesie, chirurgische Intensivmedizin, Rettungsdienst und Schmerztherapie, Luzerner Kantonsspital, 6004, Luzern, Schweiz. jakobea.woerner@ksl.ch
Jöhr
M
M
Berger
T M
TM
Christen
P
P
D000758:Anesthesia; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human; D012306:Risk; D012621:Seasons