Anesthesia in pediatric urology

Abstract

Anesthesia in pediatric urology presents some aspects typical to this surgery. Urological pathologies are many and include a wide variety of treatments for brief and simple surgery in day surgery but also for difficult pathologies and in severe clinical conditions. Preoperative evaluation allows the benefit/risk to be considered for each procedure and guides the choice of anesthesiological planning. Specific aspects such as latex allergy, coexisting pathology, renal failure, and fluid-electrolyte balance must be considered with particular attention. Anesthesiological management, today, foresees combined general-regional anesthesia to provide safe and effective pain relief during and after surgery. Standard intraoperative monitoring is applied in accordance with the indications of the safety guidelines. Renal transplantation is considered apart because the appropriate choice of anesthesia for these patients requires minimal toxicity and accurate monitoring for patients at high risk for metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory perioperative complications.