Recovery from anaesthesia in children

Abstract

There are no published comprehensive surveys of paediatric recovery room experience and the incidence of complications. A prospective survey was made of 16 700 consecutive admissions to the recovery room at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital during the years 1985–1988. The incidence of respiratory complications was low, with laryngospasm 0.85%. The incidence of hypotension was higher than that in adult studies; over 50% of children recorded a decrease in blood pressure in the recovery room of more than 20%, compared to values before operation. The incidence of vomiting in the recovery room was also lower than in comparable adult studies, Certain aspects of recovery room practice changed during the 4 years of the study; these included routine oxygen administration, parents in the recovery room, and our approach to postoperative analgesia. The implications of these changes are discussed. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved