Anesthetic management of children with an anterior mediastinal mass.
OBJECTIVE
To review the anesthetic management and perioperative course of children with an anterior mediastinal mass.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
University-affiliated children's hospital.


METHODS
The records of 46 children presenting with an anterior mediastinal mass between October 1, 1998 and October 1, 2006 were studied. Preoperative symptoms, diagnostic imaging and physical examination findings, anesthetic techniques, and perioperative complications were recorded.


RESULTS
Spontaneous ventilation was maintained in 21 of 46 cases. Five patients had mild intraoperative complications, including upper airway obstruction, mild oxyhemoglobin desaturation, wheezing, partial airway obstruction, and a pneumothorax after mediastinal mass biopsy. There were no serious complications or perioperative deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with a symptomatic anterior mediastinal mass underwent general anesthesia without serious complications. Spontaneous ventilation was preferred for all patients with severe airway compression.
Stricker
Paul A
PA
Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. strickerp@email.chop.edu
Gurnaney
Harshad G
HG
Litman
Ronald S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D010100:Oxygen