[Induction of anaesthesia and intubation in children with a full stomach. Time to rethink!]

Abstract

Classical adult type rapid sequence induction (RSI) intubation is not always appropriate in children. In newborns, infants and small children, limited cooperation during pre-oxygenation, reduced respiratory oxygen reserves, increased oxygen demand and a tendency for airway collapse, easily lead to hypoxaemia after induction of anaesthesia. Gentle mask ventilation with pressures not exceeding 10-12 degrees cm H(2)O allows oxygenation without the risk of gastric inflation and aspiration. Risk factors leading to pulmonary aspiration are bucking, coughing and straining during induction or tracheal intubation and active regurgitation and vomiting during laryngoscopy under light anaesthesia and incomplete muscle paralysis. Gentle mask ventilation allows tracheal intubation under optimised oxygenation, haemodynamics, depth of anaesthesia and complete muscle relaxation. Application of cricoid pressure does not reliably prevent pulmonary aspiration. In children cricoid pressure clearly interferes with smooth induction of anaesthesia, results in difficult mask ventilation and intubation as well as provokes bucking and straining and, therefore, should not be routinely used. Key features of RSI intubation for children are effective induction of deep anaesthesia followed by profound muscle paralysis, careful mask ventilation and gentle tracheal intubation under optimised conditions.