Paediatric non-operating room anaesthesia-the current scenario

Abstract

Providing complete and integrated anaesthesia care beyond the protected, familiar and controlled boundary of the traditional operating room setting is a challenge to the anaesthesia provider. Over the past few decades, there has been a tremendous surge in the domains where procedures are being performed under sedation in the paediatric age group- imaging facilities, dental offices, subspecialty procedure suites, emergency departments and ambulatory surgery centres. The number and complexity of such cases is increasing over time. Another major shift has been the changing face of the caregivers. Initially, the anaesthetist played an exclusive role in non-operating room anaesthesia. However, it has now emerged as a multispeciality practice and sedation for children is now being provided by a wide range of specialists around the world. In this article we have discussed the guidelines for practicing paediatric sedation in remote locations and the role of the anaesthetist in the current scenario.