title: Anesthetic management of common pediatric emergencies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To keep pediatric anesthesiologists up-to-date in their management of pediatric emergencies by identifying the key publications from 2012 that are relevant to the anesthetic management of common pediatric emergencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Little has been published about specific pediatric emergencies. A large multi-institutional audit of tracheo-esophageal fistula demonstrated a wide range of anesthesia practice and a difficulty with ventilation on induction in 7% of cases. Large audits of bronchoscopy for foreign body have also demonstrated a variety of effective practices with a low complication rate. More generally, studies have increasingly demonstrated that postoperative pain may be substantial after many common procedures including some emergency surgery. The management of the full stomach remains controversial and the use of ultrasound to assess gastric volume is promising but unproven. Recent guidelines for resuscitation have been published. It is increasingly recognized that meticulous management of pediatric brain injury is vital, and although the evidence base is very weak, a more coherent anesthetic approach is emerging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many areas of the management of pediatric emergencies remain controversial and based on little good evidence. In spite of this, the complication rate is low. Postoperative pain is an emerging problem while the optimal management of the full stomach is still unresolved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. andrew.davidson@rch.org.au
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007443:Intussusception / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D063466:Respiratory Aspiration of Gastric Contents / Q000517:prevention & control; D012151:Resuscitation; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery