Predicting Post-op Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients Using Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography-based Prediction of Post-operative Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients

Laryngospasm and post-extubation stridor are major postoperative airway difficulties in pediatric patients using tracheal tubes. These conditions are frequently caused by epithelium edema and anesthesia-related problems. Because it could reveal tracheal and laryngeal issues, ultrasound is an essential method for establishing the proper endotracheal tube size and minimizing difficulties. This research focuses on the use of ultrasonography to predict and understand pediatric postoperative airway complications.

In pediatric patients with tracheal tubes, laryngospasm, and post-extubation stridor are the two worst-case postoperative airway complications. Post-extubation stridor is caused by cricoid ring epithelial swelling, whereas laryngospasm is an uncommon but potentially fatal condition that occurs during the induction and recovery of anesthesia. When determining the proper endotracheal tube (ETT) size and minimizing postoperative problems, ultrasonography (USG) is important since it considers factors other than ETT size and irritation, like placement, surgical manipulation, and patient-specific circumstances. By displaying laryngeal and tracheal edema and the size and location of the ETT, ultrasound helps identify, at least in part, children who may experience respiratory issues. Thus, this research aims to illustrate how ultrasound could be utilized to predict the development of postoperative airway complications and to investigate the conditions that cause them in pediatric patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 1-11 years
• Anesthesia risk class: 1-2
• Patients who have given written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged under 1 or over 11 years
• Patients undergoing emergency surgery
• Patients with skin integrity issues such as open wounds, infections, or skin lesions in the area to be examined
• Patients with laryngeal or tracheal deformities
• Patients suspected of having a difficult airway
• Patients who have previously undergone surgery on the upper airway, larynx, or trachea
• Patients with a history of reactive airway disease (asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity)
• Patients who have had an upper respiratory tract infection within the last two weeks
• Patients with an anesthesia risk class of 3 or higher
• Patients undergoing high-risk surgery