Pediatric Pearls Flashcards
Why are pediatric pts temperature regulation different? (4)
Low body fat content
Thin skin
Increased BSA
Neonates unable to shiver
What is the typical pattern of hypothermia during anesthesia for pediatric pts?
Loss from core to periphery
Heat loss to the environment
Note: Phase C indicates rewarming.
Almost ALL of pediatric codes are ______ in origin.
respiratory
What % of pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest are primarily due to respiratory distress and occur at < ___ y/o?
80%
1
What are statistics to heed by ASAs 1990 closed claim project? (4)
- Respiratory events were the largest class of injury
- More common in children
- 92% of claims occurred between 1975-1985
- Brain damage and death in 85% cases but improved with pulse ox and CO2 monitoring
What are anatomical differences in the pediatric airway? (5)
- Large head, tongue, tonsils, and adenoids
- Anterior, cephalad larynx
- Long, floppy epiglottis
- Funnel-shaped larynx
- Loose teeth (5-8 y/o)
When does obligate nasal breathing subside?
3-5 months
Where are the vocal cords located in an:
premature infant
infant
adult
middle of C3
C3-C4
C4-5
What are the consequences of a pediatric pts larger tongue? (3)
Airway obstructed easily
Difficult to visualize
Miller blade preferred
What is different in an infants vocal cords?
What is the consequence of blindly placing ETT during nasal intubation?
More angled attachment to trachea than adults VC that are more perpendicular.
ETT easily lodges into anterior commisure.
What is the difference in the epiglottis in infants vs. adults? (2)
More omega shaped
More angled away from axis of trachea
What are common MAC and Miller blades in peds?
MAC
- 1
- 2
- 2 1/2
- 3
Miller
- 0,0 (premature newborn)
- 0
- 1
- 1 1/2
How do you size the diameter of an endotracheal tube?
4 + age/4
Where do you tape the tube?
12 + age/2
Note: More importantly listen for bilateral breath sounds and tape tube well since slight movement can be devastating.
What is the most you can inflate the cuff in a peds tube?
1 - 1.5 cc
Traditionally, uncuffed ET recommended in children < ____ y/o to prevent post-extubation ______ and ________.
8
stridor
subglottic stenosis
What is the argument againsted CUFFED ETT? (4)
Smaller size increases a/w resistance
Increased work of breathing
Poorly designed for pediatric patients
Need to keep cuff pressure < 25 cm H2O
What are the arguments against UNCUFFED ETT? (4)
- More tube changes during long-term intubation
- Leak of anesthetic agent to environment
- More FGF > 2L/min required
- Higher risk for aspiration
What is the effect of edema?
If radius is halved, resistance increases 16x.
Note: Poiseuille’s law
For short cases when ETT size > ____, choice of cuff vs. uncuffed probably does not matter.
4.0
In what cases is a cuffed ETT preferred? (3)
Increased risk of aspiration (bowel obstruction)
Low lung compliance (ARDS, pneumoperitoneum, CO2 insufflation, CABG)
Precise control of ventilation (increased intracranial pressure, single ventricle)
What are the complications of endotracheal intubation? (2)
Stridor –Postintubation croup (Occurs in <10%)
Subglottic stenosis (laryngotracheal )(Occurs 90% of prolonged intubations)
What are the risk factors for postintubation croup (aka stridor)? (6)
Large ETT
Change in pt position intraop
Multiple attempts at intubation
Pts < 4 y/o
Surgery > 1 hour
Coughing on ETT
Ischemic injury caused by lateral wall pressure of larynx leads to what? (3)
Edema
Necrosis
Ulceration of mucosa
What are respiratory development considerations in pediatric pts? (4)
Weak intercostals/diaphragmatic muscles –> less efficient ventilation
Incomplete alveolar maturation
Increased chest wall compliance –> less efficient ventilation
Limited O2 reserve during apnea
What is the FRC in pediatric patients?
28-30 cc/kg
Note: Infants also have increased O2 demand and metabolism leading to faster desaturation.
What is the oxygen consumption of an infant vs. an adult?
Infant: 6 ml/kg/min
Adult: 3.5 ml/kg/min
Greater O2 consumption in infants leads to what?
increased inspiratory rate
How does the FRC of an awake infant compared to an adult?
Both are similar when normalized to body weight.