title: Anaesthesia for children with bronchial asthma and respiratory infections.
abstract: Asthma represents one of the most common chronic diseases in children with an increasing incidence reported worldwide. The key to successful anaesthetic outcome involves thorough pre-operative assessment and optimisation of the child's pulmonary status. Judicious application of proper anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory regimes should be instituted as part of pre-operative preparation. Bronchospasm triggering agents should be carefully probed and meticulously avoided. A calm and properly sedated child at the time of induction is ideal, so also is extubation in a deep plane with an unobstructed airway. Wherever possible, regional anaesthesia should be employed. This will avoid airway manipulations, with additional benefit of excellent peri-operative analgesia. Agents with a potential for histamine release and techniques that can increase airway resistance should be diligently avoided. Emphasis must be given to proper post-operative care including respiratory monitoring, analgesia and breathing exercises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rajesh
keywords: Anaesthesia; paediatric asthma; peri-operative management