title: Update on complications in pediatric anesthesia.
abstract: Complications in pediatric anesthesia can happen, even in our modern hospitals with the most advanced equipment and skilled anesthesiologists. It is important, albeit in a tranquil and reassuring way, to inform parents of the possibility of complications and, in general, of the anesthetic risks. This is especially imperative when speaking to the parents of children who will be operated on for minor procedures: in our experience, they tend to think that the anesthesia will be a light anesthesia without risks. Often the surgeons tell them that the operation is very simple without stressing the fact that it will be done under general anesthesia which is identical to the one we give for major operations. Different is the scenario for the parents of children who are affected by malignant neoplasms: in these cases they already know that the illness is serious. They have this tremendous burden and we choose not to add another one by discussing anesthetic risks, so we usually go along with the examination of the child without bringing up the possibility of complications, unless there is some specific problem such as a mediastinal mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Agostino Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome;
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Francisci
authors.forename: Angela Elisa
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Papasidero
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spinazzola
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galante
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caruselli
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pedrotti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caso
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambo
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melchionda
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Faticato
keywords: anesthetic drugs; complications; pediatric anesthesia; preanesthetic evaluation.