Pediatric Anesthesia

Pediatric anesthesia groups have come a long way in the last few years. General anesthesia, sedation, and pain control for new-borns and children are the responsibility of pediatric anesthesiologists. Because the demands of new-borns and young children are fundamentally different from those of adults, pediatric anesthesia has developed as a specialist. The child's cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neuromuscular, and central nervous system reactions to various medicines, as well as physical and chemical stimuli such as changes in blood oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, pH, and body temperature, should be known to the pediatric anesthesiologist. Their answers differ qualitatively and quantitatively from those of adults, as well as among different age groups of children. More importantly, the pediatric anesthesiologist should constantly take into account the child's emotional needs and establish an atmosphere that reduces or eliminates fear and suffering. Furthermore, by combining regional analgesia with the introduction of newer and less soluble volatile anesthetics, injectable anesthetics, and shorter-acting synthetic opioids and muscle relaxants, a more diversified anesthetic approach has evolved. Finally, as pediatric anesthesiologists take on the role of pain management specialists outside of perioperative treatment, the scope of pediatric anesthesia is broadening.