My latest review article has just been published in Airway Management from Anesthesiology News: 10 Common Pediatric Airway Problems — And Their Solutions. Anesthesiologists who perform fewer than 100 pediatric cases on infants and young children per year are five times more likely to experience complications compared with anesthesiologists who do more than 200 cases per year.This article reviews the most important differences the you need to take into account as you care for the airway of a small child.
The trend to only use pediatric providers has a seriously negative unintended consequence: It deprives other providers of routinely caring for children, making them less prepared for when they do inevitably have to care for a small child.
Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Providing Care to a Child!
Although it’s normal to be intimidated when treating an infant or a small child, most children have easily managed airways. It is essential that your pediatric patient stays oxygenated and ventilated. If you prepare what you need ahead of time, take the differences in anatomy and physiology into account, and are methodical and gentle, you will not hurt the baby.
May The Force Be With You
Christine Whitten MD, author
Anyone Can Intubate: A Step By Step Guide
and
Pediatric Airway Management: a Step By Step Guide
Click on the covers to preview the books at Amazon.com
