title: To proceed or not to proceed: ENT surgery in paediatric patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Upper respiratory tract infection is the most common non-preventable cause of surgery cancellation. Consequently, surgeons and anaesthesiologists involved in elective ENT surgical procedures frequently face a dilemma of whether to proceed or to postpone surgery in affected children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was conducted and a practical assessment algorithm proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk-benefit assessment should take into consideration the impact of postponing the surgery intended to bring relief to the child and the risks of proceeding with general anaesthesia in an inflamed airway. The suggested algorithm for assessment may be a useful tool to support the decision of whether to proceed or to postpone surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Edith Wolfson Medical Centre,Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine,Holon,Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Edith Wolfson Medical Centre,Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine,Holon,Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamir
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Edith Wolfson Medical Centre,Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine,Holon,Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology,Edith Wolfson Medical Centre,Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine,Holon,Israel.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ezri
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Edith Wolfson Medical Centre,Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine,Holon,Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Anesthesia; Otorhinolaryngology; Surgery; Upper Respiratory Tract Infections