Avoiding adverse outcomes in anaesthesia. The relevant As: allergy, asthma airway and anaphylaxis

Abstract

The perioperative preparation of children presenting for surgery aims to identify medical problems that might influence the outcome and to institute management strategies to reduce those risks. Adverse respiratory events remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in modern paediatric anaesthesia. This manuscript addresses some common medical problems that may impact on the anaesthetic. These include upper respiratory tract infections, and allergy and asthma; conditions whose optimal management should invoke daily discussions, and which can have significant implications if not managed correctly.

Keywords: general anaesthesia, paediatric, upper respiratory tract infection, food allergy, asthma, laryngospasm, bronchospasm