Hippokratia 1997, 1(1):40-49
A. Zambouri, CH. Brajou, M. Ventouri, Z. Kanonidou, P. Papastephanou, M. Koulali, S. Gavopoulos
Abstract
The third building (building C) of “Hippokratio” General Hospital has 7 Surgical Departments (Department of Pediatric Surgery, Otolaryngology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery, Urology and General Surgery). The first five perform many surgical procedures in neonates, infants and children. This pediatric surgical case was decided to be recorded and studied retrospectively for a seven-year period from 1989 to 1995. The cases of each surgical department were studied separately. The total number of cases in which anesthesia was given was collected and the following were recorded: 1) the number of pediatric surgical cases, 2) the type of operation performed, 3) their distribution in 5 age-groups: 0-30 days, >1 month-1 year, >1 year-2 years, >2 years-5 years and >5 years-14 years, 4) the monitoring that was used, 5) the age-related specific problems (difficulty in venipuncture, in tracheal intubation, etc.), 6) the occurrence of complications (bradycardia, laryngospasm, postoperative vomiting). During the seven-year period from 1989 to 1995 a total number of 37.266 anesthetics were given in an equal number of surgical procedures. From these, 14.827 (40%) were performed in neonates, infants and children aging from 0 days to 14 years. This great number of pediatric anesthetics has provided valuable clinical experience to our anesthesiologists. This experience in pediatric anesthesia has improved dramatically the quality of anesthetic care for neonates, infants and children in our hospital.