Anesthetic Agents in Pediatric Patients, A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacological Considerations in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Pediatric anesthesia is a specialized subset of general anesthesia that differs in several important ways from adult anesthesia. This field focuses on the routine care of neonates, infants, children and adolescents and includes a thorough preoperative evaluation, patient and parent preparation, induction of anesthesia, maintenance of anesthesia and emergence from anesthesia There are important differences in anatomy, physiology, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics must be considered and a thorough understanding of the differences between anesthesia in children and adults. In this review these important differences between pediatric anesthesia and adult anesthesia are discussed. The present investigation also describes relevant anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology, and the techniques required for the preparation, intubation, induction of anesthesia, and maintenance of anesthesia in pediatric patients. Finally, newer drug considerations in the pediatric population, such as magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant drug and albuterol for children undergoing tonsillectomy, are reviewed.