In a prospective, randomized study, we investigated the incidence of successful insertion of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) at the first attempt and the incidence of side effects after LMA insertion using the combination of sevoflurane and propofol as compared with either sevoflurane or propofol alone for induction of anesthesia. Eighty-three unpremedicated ASA physical status I-II patients were anesthetized with a single vital capacity breath (VCB) of sevoflurane 8% supplemented with IV propofol 1.5 mg/kg, a single VCB of sevoflurane 8%, or IV propofol 3 mg/kg. The coinduction technique was associated with the most frequent incidence of successful LMA insertion at the first attempt (93.5%) than either sevoflurane alone (46%) or propofol alone (61.5%) (P < 0.001). Propofol-induced induction of anesthesia allowed the fastest insertion of LMA and was associated with the least frequent incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. However, this advantage of propofol was offset by a frequent incidence of pain on injection (69%) and the occurrence of movements during insertion of the LMA (50% in the propofol group versus 19% and 26% in the sevoflurane and sevoflurane-propofol groups, respectively; P < 0.05), as well as a more frequent incidence of apnea (84% in the propofol group versus 7% and 16% in the sevoflurane and sevoflurane-propofol groups, respectively; P < 0.001). The report shows that induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane-propofol combined provides a frequent incidence of successful LMA insertion at the first attempt that is associated with an infrequent incidence of apnea.

Physiological disturbances induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and hypothermia during cardiac surgery are particularly pronounced in certain unique patient populations, such as patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and cold agglutinin disease. Red blood cells containing hemoglobin S (HbS) are at increased risk of sickling under conditions encountered during cardiac surgery, leading to SCD-related complications such as vaso-occlusive events. While a target level of HbS has not been determined for patients with SCD undergoing CPB, a safe practice includes increasing the Hb level to 10 g/dL and reducing the proportion of HbS to approximately 30%. This can be accomplished through simple or exchange transfusion prior to surgery or via the modification of the CPB circuit prime. There is no clear consensus on the formulation or the delivery temperature of the cardioplegia solution necessary to prevent sickling and microvascular occlusion. The presence of cold agglutinins is another entity requiring extra vigilance for the conduct of CPB, where hypothermia can lead to activation of cold agglutinins inducing massive hemagglutination, hemolysis, microvascular thrombosis, and possibly intracoronary thrombosis. Determination of thermal amplitude is important to provide a safe reference range of temperature during surgery. High-volume plasmapheresis may be warranted to reduce cold agglutinin titers. Both warm blood cardioplegia and cold crystalloid cardioplegia above the thermal amplitude have been utilized with success.

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Neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass are exposed to multiple blood products from different donors. The volume of the bypass circuit is often as large as the patient's total blood volume and asanguineous bypass primes are unusual. As a result, blood products are required for the cardiopulmonary bypass prime and are often used to treat the postbypass dilutional coagulopathy. We review clot formation and strength, cardiopulmonary bypass prime considerations, assessment of postbypass coagulopathy, component therapy use, ultrafiltration techniques, and use of antifibrinolytic medications. A combined approach including techniques to minimize the prime volume, utilization of ultrafiltration, administration of antifibrinolytics during surgery, and the proper treatment of the dilutional coagulopathy can limit the transfusion requirements.

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Summary Recent advances in catheterization and imaging technology allow for more complex procedures to be performed in the catheterization laboratory. A number of lesions are now amenable to a percutaneous procedure, eliminating or at least postponing the need for a surgical intervention. Due to the increase in the complexity of the procedures performed, the involvement of anesthesiologists and their close collaboration with the interventional cardiologists have increased. It is important to understand the physiology and pathophysiology of the patients and to anticipate the plans and the potential complications in order to manage them. We are witnessing a rise in the number of complex interventions in newborns and infants, such as balloon valvotomy (critical aortic stenosis, pulmonary stenosis), radio frequency perforation (of pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum), right ventricular outflow tract stenting (in Tetralogy of Fallot), ductal stenting (in some ductus‐dependent pulmonary circulation), and combined with a surgical procedure (hybrid procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome). Multiple registries have been created in order to understand and improve outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease undergoing catheterization procedures and to develop performance and quality metrics, from which data regarding anesthetic‐related risks can be extrapolated. Experienced personnel and a multidisciplinary team approach with direct communication among the team members is a must to ensure anticipation and management of critical events when they occur.

Retrograde intubation is part of the difficult airway algorithm in the American Society of Anesthesiologists, but its usage is rare in small pediatric patients with the advent of new intubation techniques. We present our experience of retrograde intubation for a 4-month-old patient who presented for laryngeal cleft repair on cardiopulmonary bypass. This case highlights the unique place for retrograde intubation in small patients in the current era.

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