Evaluation and Preparation of Pediatric Patients Undergoing Anesthesia
Evaluation and Preparation of Pediatric Patients Undergoing Anesthesia
Primary health care providers should play a leading role in the medical evaluation and psychological preparation of children before surgery or other procedures requiring anesthesia. The provider’s goal is to ensure that the child’s medical issues are clearly defined and that the physiologic impact and limitations imposed by each condition are well delineated. The primary care provider’s knowledge of the patient’s past medical history and the results of an appropriate physical and/or laboratory evaluation before anesthesia and surgery can provide valuable information to both the anesthesiologist and the surgeon in making the determination as to whether the procedure should take place.
The objectives of this review are threefold:
1. To describe medical issues of concern to anesthesiologists and surgeons to improve the effectiveness of medical consultations in the preoperative period;
2. To present information that will encourage and facilitate communication among surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, and other primary health care providers; and
3. To provide guidelines to pediatricians and other primary health care providers who are preparing patients and families for anticipated procedures.
ROLE OF THE SURGEON
The preoperative evaluation and preparation begins in the office of the primary health care provider.
The referral to a surgeon should include a description of what the child and parent should expect during the visit to the surgeon. This will help reduce their anxiety and improve the interaction with the surgeon.
Three types of patients for whom surgeons are typically consulted for evaluation and treatment are the healthy child who is undergoing elective surgery, the chronically ill child who requires surgery, and the acutely ill or injured child who requires emergent surgery. When elective surgery is anticipated, the primary provider should communicate directly with
Primary health care providers should play a leading role in the medical evaluation and psychological preparation of children before surgery or other procedures requiring anesthesia. The provider’s goal is to ensure that the child’s medical issues are clearly defined and that the physiologic impact and limitations imposed by each condition are well delineated. The primary care provider’s knowledge of the patient’s past medical history and the results of an appropriate physical and/or laboratory evaluation before anesthesia and surgery can provide valuable information to both the anesthesiologist and the surgeon in making the determination as to whether the procedure should take place.
The objectives of this review are threefold:
1. To describe medical issues of concern to anesthesiologists and surgeons to improve the effectiveness of medical consultations in the preoperative period;
2. To present information that will encourage and facilitate communication among surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, and other primary health care providers; and
3. To provide guidelines to pediatricians and other primary health care providers who are preparing patients and families for anticipated procedures.
ROLE OF THE SURGEON
The preoperative evaluation and preparation begins in the office of the primary health care provider.
The referral to a surgeon should include a description of what the child and parent should expect during the visit to the surgeon. This will help reduce their anxiety and improve the interaction with the surgeon.
Three types of patients for whom surgeons are typically consulted for evaluation and treatment are the healthy child who is undergoing elective surgery, the chronically ill child who requires surgery, and the acutely ill or injured child who requires emergent surgery. When elective surgery is anticipated, the primary provider should communicate directly with