title: Pediatric respiratory complication after general anesthesia with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home: a case report.
abstract: In 2005, the World Health Organization estimated that 572% of children were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home. Studies show that children who are exposed to ETS are more prone to airway and pulmonary complications perioperatively. A 4-year-old healthy girl, weighing 12.7 kg, who had dental caries presented for general anesthesia for a full mouth restoration. Pertinent history included a remote history of bronchitis after an upper respiratory tract infection, with no current use of inhalers or other medications. Further assessment revealed that the patient had been exposed to cigarette smoke in the home since birth by both parents. After induction of general anesthesia, the patient experienced a respiratory complication and the surgical procedure was canceled. The literature provides numerous studies on the anesthetic risks associated with pediatric patients with long-term exposure to ETS. Research suggests the importance of a thorough anesthetic preoperative evaluation to reduce the risks of respiratory complications by educating parents on the detrimental effects of exposing their children to ETS. The purpose of this report is to present information about long-term ETS exposure in the pediatric population and to expand the body of literature on the topic.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. arlyons.65@gmail.com
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution