Equipment and monitoring in paediatric anaesthesia

Abstract

Advances in paediatric anaesthetic equipment and monitoring continue to be made. While the mainstay of airway intubating equipment currently is the direct laryngoscope, videolaryngoscopes and endoscopes are increasing in their use. These continue to evolve, generating better quality pictures, with more sophisticated yet easier to use equipment. Vascular access in paediatric anaesthesia can be challenging. Ultrasound has become an integral piece of equipment in the management of these children with difficult access. As the population increases in weight, so the management of the obese child is now a reality. This requires thought and careful planning of their perioperative care. Newer techniques such as high flow nasal oxygen are useful both to prevent hypoxia at induction, but also to facilitate surgery. Total intravenous anaesthesia will be discussed with reference to paediatric algorithms and equipment. Neurological monitoring in the form of near-infrared spectroscopy and depth of anaesthesia monitoring are discussed with evidence relevant to paediatric practice.