Abstract
The pediatric population presents many unique challenges to the anesthesia
care team. A well-organized pediatric anesthesia room setup is essential to facilitate a
smooth induction, maintenance, and emergence. Infants and children have a greater
metabolic rate and increased oxygen consumption. Although the child’s functional
residual capacity (FRC) is similar to an adult’s, the child’s ability to compensate during
periods of hypoxia is limited due to these compounding factors. As a result, rapid
oxygen desaturation is more prevalent in the pediatric population, and limits the
amount of time the anesthesia provider has to rectify these conditions. A thorough
operating room setup includes precise drug calculations, ventilator settings and airway
equipment, IV and colloid infusions, and thermoregulation considerations. Knowledge
of these considerations allows the non-routine pediatric anesthesia provider an
opportunity to provide safe, efficient, and optimal care to the pediatric population
during the intraoperative period.
Keywords: Airway equipment, Anesthesia setup, Anesthesia cart, Anesthesia machine, Bleeding tonsil, Blood transfusion, Cleft lip/palate, Difficult airway, Epiglottitis, Fiberoptic intubation, Fiberoptic intubation blocks, Handoff communication, Neonatal anesthesia, Obesity, Pediatric drug dosing, Pediatric laryngoscopes, Pediatric trauma, Postoperative transport, Pyloromyotomy, Sleep apnea, Thermoregulation and warming devices, Tracheostomy, Transport ventilator, Videolaryngoscopy.