Racial Disparities in Pediatric Anesthesia: An Updated Review

Abstract

Health care disparities affect care across all medical fields, including pediatric anesthesia. Recent studies have revealed differences in pediatric perioperative care especially in anesthetic and analgesic choices. Additionally, Black children face higher 30 day postoperative mortality and more serious adverse events compared to White children. While strategies to address these disparities have been proposed, significant work is still needed.

Keywords: Health care disparities; Implicit bias; Pediatric anesthesia; Perioperative mortality; Postoperative outcomes; Racial or ethnic inequity.