Kids and Anesthesia: Dulling the Pain
Thanks to modern medicine, the agony of surgery can be considerably blunted even for the very young. Moreover, these children can receive medications for other minor or major interventions, such as stitching up bad cuts. How much is too much? Are these meds without risk? What are the complications? How can parents help or hinder the process? These questions and others will be addressed at the three-day Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society Annual Meeting, which starts today.
“The goal of our conference is to share knowledge and address key issues, such as parental involvement,” says Dr. Davinia Withington, Associate Professor in Depts of Anesthesia and Pediatrics at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC and co-organizer of the meeting with Dr. Josee Lavoie, Associate Professor of Anesthesia at Montreal Children’s Hospital. “Creating the right environment pre-surgery is incredibly important for both the physician and the child. For example, having parents in the room isn’t always beneficial. This is one of the many topics to be discussed.”
Other topics include:
- How to anesthetize children with pre-existing conditions such as congenital heart disease.
- The use and effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (e.g. ibuprofen) on bone healing.
- The evaluation of anesthesia machine standards.
“More than 80 anesthesiologists from across Canada and overseas will attend,” adds Dr. Withington.
What: Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society Annual Meeting
When: Friday Nov. 7 to Sunday Nov. 9
Where: Hotel InterContinental
360 St-Antoine Ouest
Montreal
Web address: http://www.cas.ca/public/meeting_calendar/general/default.asp?EventId=271
The Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) is the pediatric teaching hospital of the McGill University Health Centre and is affiliated with McGill University. The MCH is a leader in providing a broad spectrum of highly specialized care to newborns, children, and adolescents from across Quebec. Our areas of medical expertise include programs in brain development/behaviour, cardiovascular sciences, critical care, medical genetics and oncology, tertiary medical and surgical services, and trauma care. Fully bilingual, the hospital also promotes multiculturalism and serves an increasingly diverse community in more than 50 languages. The Montreal Children’s Hospital sets itself apart with its team approach to innovative patient care. Our health professionals and staff are dedicated to ensuring children and their families receive exceptional health care in a friendly and supportive environment.