Risk assessment for respiratory complications in paediatric anaesthesia: a prospective cohort study

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 376; no. 9743; pp. 773 - 783
• Main Authors: von Ungern-Sternberg, Britta S, Prof, Boda, Krisztina, PhD, Chambers, Neil A, MD, Rebmann, Claudia, MD, Johnson, Chris, MD, Sly, Peter D, Prof, Habre, Walid, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 04.09.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Airway management; Airway Obstruction - etiology; Analysis of Variance; Anesthesia; Anesthesia, General - adverse effects; Anesthesia, General - methods; Anesthetics, General - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, General - adverse effects; Asthma; Asthma - complications; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Spasm - etiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical medicine; Cough - etiology; Data collection; Eczema; Female; General aspects; Humans; Hypersensitivity - complications; Infant; Infusions, Intravenous; Internal Medicine; Laryngismus - etiology; Male; Medical History Taking; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Postoperative period; Prospective Studies; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Respiration Disorders - etiology; Respiration Disorders - genetics; Respiratory Sounds - etiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Statistical analysis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Variables; Australia; Australia, Western Australia, Perth; Switzerland, Basel; Human; Pediatrics; Risk; Respiratory system; Medicine; Prospective; Respiratory tract; Cohort study; Risk factor; Anesthesia; Complication; Child; Public health
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61193-2

Summary Background Perioperative respiratory adverse events in children are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality during paediatric anaesthesia. We aimed to identify associations between family history, anaesthesia management, and occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events. Methods We prospectively included all children who had general anaesthesia for surgical or medical interventions, elective or urgent procedures at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia, from Feb 1, 2007, to Jan 31, 2008. On the day of surgery, anaesthetists in charge of paediatric patients completed an adapted version of the International Study Group for Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. We collected data on family medical history of asthma, atopy, allergy, upper respiratory tract infection, and passive smoking. Anaesthesia management and all perioperative respiratory adverse events were recorded. Findings 9297 questionnaires were available for analysis. A positive respiratory history (nocturnal dry cough, wheezing during exercise, wheezing more than three times in the past 12 months, or a history of present or past eczema) was associated with an increased risk for bronchospasm (relative risk [RR] 8·46, 95% CI 6·18–11·59; p<0·0001), laryngospasm (4·13, 3·37–5·08; p<0·0001), and perioperative cough, desaturation, or airway obstruction (3·05, 2·76–3·37; p<0·0001). Upper respiratory tract infection was associated with an increased risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events only when symptoms were present (RR 2·05, 95% CI 1·82–2·31; p<0·0001) or less than 2 weeks before the procedure (2·34, 2·07–2·66; p<0·0001), whereas symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection 2–4 weeks before the procedure significantly lowered the incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events (0·66, 0·53–0·81; p<0·0001). A history of at least two family members having asthma, atopy, or smoking increased the risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events (all p<0·0001). Risk was lower with intravenous induction compared with inhalational induction (all p<0·0001), inhalational compared with intravenous maintenance of anaesthesia (all p<0·0001), airway management by a specialist paediatric anaesthetist compared with a registrar (all p<0·0001), and use of face mask compared with tracheal intubation (all p<0·0001). Interpretation Children at high risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events could be systematically identified at the preanaesthetic assessment and thus can benefit from a specifically targeted anaesthesia management. Funding Department of Anaesthesia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Swiss Foundation for Grants in Biology and Medicine, and the Voluntary Academic Society Basel.