Vidya Raman

Guidelines to decrease unanticipated hospital admission following adenotonsillectomy in the pediatric population

INTRODUCTION Tonsillectomy has become one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the pediatric-aged patient. Many of these children are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although polysomnography is considered the gold standard, many practioners rely on the clinical examination and parental history. Nationwide Childrens Hospital recently instituted pediatric adenotonsillectomy guidelines for hospital admission to help determine which patients should be done in main hospital OR vs. outpatient surgery facility. The main goal was to decrease unanticipated admissions. The secondary goal was to determine areas for practice improvement. METHODS Using databases for the hospital, operating room, and otolaryngology, all cases with CPT codes 42820, 42830, 42825, 42826, and 42821 were evaluated from October 2009 to August 2012 in the main operating room and 2 outpatient surgery centers. Data for each unanticipated admission were reviewed to determine whether the criteria were met according to the developed guidelines. Fishers exact test was applied to the unplanned admission rate before and after the institution of the guidelines. Non-paired t-test and a Fishers exact test were used for comparison of the demographic data between the two groups. RESULTS Following the institution of the pediatric adenotonsillectomy guidelines, the number of unanticipated admissions decreased from an absolute number of 88 to 43. This represents a decrease from 2.38% to 1.44% (p=0.008). Forty-two percent of the unanticipated admissions prior to establishing guidelines were in patients who would have met criteria for admission based on the guidelines. This decreased to 30% after establishing the guidelines. CONCLUSION We found that the institution of pediatric adenotonsillectomy guidelines for patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy significantly decreased the rate of unanticipated admission. However, there was still a significant percentage (30%) of unanticipated admissions due to non-compliance with the guidelines demonstrating the need for ongoing practice improvement.

Effect of cuffed and uncuffed endotracheal tubes on the oropharyngeal oxygen and volatile anesthetic agent concentration in children.

BACKGROUND Over the past 5 years, there has been a change in the clinical practice of pediatric anesthesiology with a transition to the use of cuffed instead of uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) in infants and children. As the trachea is sealed, one advantage is to eliminate the contamination of the oropharynx with oxygen which should be advantageous during adenotonsillectomy where there is a risk of airway fire. The current study prospectively assesses the oropharyngeal oxygen and volatile anesthetic agent concentration during adenotonsillectomy in infants and children. METHODS Following the induction of general anesthesia in patients scheduled for adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, the trachea was intubated. The use of a cuffed or uncuffed ETT and the use of spontaneous (SV) or positive pressure ventilation (PPV) were at the discretion of the anesthesia team. The oxygen concentration was kept at 100% oxygen until the study was completed. Following placement of the mouth gag, the otolaryngolist placed into the oropharynx a small bore catheter, which was attached to a standard anesthesia gas monitoring device which sampled the gas at 150mL/min. The concentration of the oxygen and the concentration of the anesthetic agent in the oropharynx were measured for 5 breaths. RESULTS The cohort for the study included 200 patients ranging in age from 1 to 18 years. With the use of a cuffed ETT and either SV or PPV, the oxygen concentration in the oropharynx was 20-21% and the volatile agent concentration was 0% in all 118 patients. With the use of an uncuffed ETT and the administration of 100% oxygen, there was significant contamination of the oropharynx noted during both PPV and SV. The mean oxygen concentration was 71% during PPV with an uncuffed ETT and 65% during SV with an uncuffed ETT. In these patients, the oropharyngeal oxygenation concentration exceeded 30% in 73 of the 82 patients (89%). The oropharyngeal oxygen and agent concentration was greater when the leak around the uncuffed ETT was ≥10cmH(2)O versus less than 10cmH(2)O and when the leak around the uncuffed ETT was ≥15cmH(2)O versus less than 15cmH(2)O. CONCLUSIONS With the use of an uncuffed ETT and the administration of 100% oxygen, there was significant contamination of the oropharynx noted during both PPV and SV. The oropharyngeal concentration of oxygen is high enough to support combustion in the majority of patients. The use of a cuffed ETT eliminates oropharyngeal contamination with oxygen during the administration of anesthesia and may be useful in limiting the incidence of an airway fire.

Dexmedetomidine-ketamine sedation during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and egg allergy

Sedation during invasive procedures provides appropriate humanitarian care as well as facilitating the completion of procedure. Although generally safe and effective, adverse effects may occur especially in patients with co-morbid diseases. In many cases, given its rapid onset and offset, propofol is chosen to provide sedation during various invasive procedures. We present a nine-year-old, 45 kg child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who presented for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Given the egg allergy, which was a relative contraindication to the use of propofol, and the potential risk of malignant hyperthermia due to DMD, a combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine was used for procedural sedation. Dexmedetomidine was administered as a loading dose of 1 μg/kg along with a single bolus dose of ketamine (1 mg/kg). This was followed by a dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.5 μg/kg/hour. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was discharged to home. Previous reports regarding the use of dexmedetomidine and ketamine for procedural sedation are reviewed and the potential efficacy of this combination is discussed.

Pain management following myringotomy and tube placement: Intranasal dexmedetomidine versus intranasal fentanyl

PURPOSE Despite the brevity of the procedure, bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement (BMT) can result in significant postoperative pain and discomfort. As the procedure is frequently performed without intravenous access, non-parenteral routes of administration are frequently used for analgesia. The current study prospectively compares the efficacy of intranasal (IN) dexmedetomidine with IN fentanyl for children undergoing BMT. METHODS This prospective, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial included pediatric patients undergoing BMT. The patients were randomized to receive either IN dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) or fentanyl (2 μg/kg) after the induction of general anesthesia with sevoflurane. All patients received rectal acetaminophen (40 mg/kg) and the first 50 patients also received premedication with oral midazolam. Postoperative pain and recovery were assessed using pediatric pain and recovery scales, and any adverse effects were monitored for. RESULTS The study cohort included 100 patients who ranged in age from 1 to 7.7 years and in weight from 8.6 to 37.4 kg. They were divided into 4 groups with 25 patients in each group: (1) midazolam premedication+IN dexmedetomidine; (2) midazolam premedication+IN fentanyl; (3) no premedication+IN dexmedetomidine; and (4) no premedication+IN fentanyl. Pain scores were comparable when comparing groups 2, 3 and 4, but were higher in group 1 (midazolam premedication with IN dexmedetomidine). There was no difference in total time in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or time from arrival in the PACU until hospital discharge between the 4 groups. The heart rate (HR) was significantly lower in group 3 when compared to the other groups at several different times after arrival to the PACU. No clinically significant difference was noted in blood pressure. CONCLUSION Following BMT, when no premedication is administered, there was no clinical advantage when comparing IN dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) to IN fentanyl (2 μg/kg). The addition of oral midazolam as a premedication worsened the outcome measures particularly for children receiving IN dexmedetomidine.

Regional anesthesia for an upper extremity amputation for palliative care in a patient with end-stage osteosarcoma complicated by a large anterior mediastinal mass.

Tumor progression during end-of-life care can lead to significant pain, which at times may be refractory to routine analgesic techniques. Although regional anesthesia is commonly used for postoperative pain care, there is limited experience with its use during home hospice care. We present a 24-year-old male with end-stage metastatic osteosarcoma who required anesthetic care for a right-sided above-the-elbow amputation. The anesthetic management was complicated by the presence of a large mediastinal mass, limited pulmonary reserve, and severe chronic pain with a high preoperative opioid requirement. Intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative pain management were provided by regional anesthesia using an interscalene catheter. He was discharged home with the interscalene catheter in place with a continuous local anesthetic infusion that allowed weaning of his chronic opioid medications and the provision of effective pain control. The perioperative applications of regional anesthesia in palliative and home hospice care are discussed.

Potential for severe airway obstruction from pediatric retropharyngeal abscess

Retropharyngeal abscesses in the pediatric population can cause severe respiratory distress. We report a rare case of significant airway obstruction in a 14-month-old patient requiring rapid, emergent tracheotomy after attempts at endotracheal intubation by an experienced airway surgeon were unsuccessful. The patient was diagnosed with streptococcal pharyngitis 9 days prior to presentation to our facility and was being treated with amoxicillin. Prompt diagnosis, communication, and appropriate multidisciplinary airway management can lead to successful outcomes even in these severe cases.

A study on the efficacy and safety of combining dental surgery with tonsillectomy in pediatrics

Purpose Few data exist on combining pediatric surgical procedures under a single general anesthetic encounter (general anesthesia). We compared perioperative outcomes of combining dental surgical procedures with tonsillectomy during one anesthetic vs separate encounters. Methods We classified elective tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy and restorative dentistry as combined (group C) or separate (group S). Outcomes included anesthesia time, recovery duration, the need for overnight hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results Patients aged 4±1 years underwent tonsillectomy and dental surgery in combination (n=7) or separately (n=27). No differences were noted in total anesthesia time (C: median: 150, interquartile range [IQR]: 99, 165 vs S: median: 109, IQR: 92, 132; 95% CI of difference in median: −58, +10 minutes; P=0.115) and total recovery time (C: median: 54, IQR: 40, 108 vs S: median: 72, IQR: 58, 109; 95% CI of difference in median: −16, +48 minutes; P=0.307). The need for overnight stay (C: 4 of 7, S: 20 of 27; P=0.394) did not differ between the groups. No postoperative complications were noted in either group. Conclusion These preliminary data support the potential feasibility of combining dental procedures with tonsillectomy during a single anesthetic encounter. Such care may not only reduce costs but also limit parental work absences and increase convenience for patient families. When compared with procedures performed separately, combined procedures did not result in increased morbidity or significant changes in postoperative outcomes.

Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Single-Dose Intravenous Acetaminophen for Pain Associated With Adenotonsillectomy in Pediatric Patients With Sleep-Disordered Breathing

OBJECTIVES Adequate pain control is an important component in the postoperative outcome for pediatric adenotonsillectomy patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Intravenous acetaminophen appears to be a favorable analgesic adjunct owing to its predictable pharmacokinetics and opioid-sparing effects; however, its role in pediatric adenotonsillectomy pain management remains unclear. METHODS In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study, subjects with the diagnosis of SDB, aged 2 to 8 years, who required extended postoperative admission, received intravenous acetaminophen (15 mg/kg) or saline placebo intraoperatively in addition to morphine (0.1 mg/kg) for postoperative surgical analgesia. Pain scores in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) using the FLACC (Faces, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability) score were used to determine the need for supplemental analgesic agents in the PACU. The PACU time and time to the first request for pain medication on the inpatient ward were also measured. RESULTS A total of 239 patients were included in the final data analysis (118 in the intravenous acetaminophen group and 121 in the saline placebo group). The 2 groups did not differ in the proportion of patients reaching FLACC scores = 4 in the PACU (p = 0.223); mean FLACC scores in the PACU (p = 0.336); mean PACU time (p = 0.883); or time to requesting pain medication on the inpatient ward (p = 0.640). CONCLUSIONS A single intraoperative dose of intravenous acetaminophen did not alter the postoperative course of pediatric patients with SDB following adenotonsillectomy.

To Rescind or Not to Rescind? Allow for a Natural Death (AND) Orders During the Perioperative Period A Case-Based Commentary

At first glance, limiting resuscitative efforts in the operating room (OR) could be viewed as counterintuitive. Such view, however, disregards the fact that the goal of surgery is not always curative. Indeed, surgery may be undertaken for palliative or other purposes, and in those instances, allowing for a natural death (AND; formerly “do not resuscitate” or DNR orders) may be in line with a patient’s wishes. As is frequently the case in pediatrics, where in many instances choices are made without input from the patient, decisions to allow for a patient’s natural death have an added level of complexity. Herein we present one such situation where a child born prematurely and with hydranencephaly underwent a procedure to limit cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production. In the perioperative area, cultural and language barriers hampered in-depth discussions about the parents’ wishes for the child, and the AND order was, as a matter of course, rescinded. During the procedure, the child had profuse intracranial bleeding and vigorous resuscitative measures were used—the patient died a few hours after surgery. This case is used as backdrop for a discussion on the ethics of perioperative orders to limit aggressive resuscitative measures and the influence that the socalled “Baby Doe rules” have on the treatment of infants with life-threatening conditions, at least in the United States.