ACTRN12615001319561.

No abstract

China, after the presentation of a cluster of patients with atypical pneumonia. These initial cases had links to a "wet market" where a range of live or freshly slaughtered animals were sold. 1 The virus has since been named SARS-CoV-2 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the disease which it can cause is called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The WHO declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The virus particles have a diameter of 60-140nm and are round-or oval-shaped and studded with spike proteins. 2The virus is highly contagious and gains entry to the host cell via the ACE-2 receptor on respiratory epithelia cells. A global response to the pandemic has included early publication of the pathogen genome, rapid development of diagnostic tests and co-ordinated research efforts to discover treatments and develop a vaccine. | TR AN S MISS I ON AND EPIDEMI OLOGYCases of COVID-19 have spread rapidly around the world, demonstrating the highly contagious nature of the virus. Its main routes of transmission are respiratory droplets and contact with respiratory secretions. However, it is likely that there is also fomite spread via contaminated surfaces based on our knowledge of other coronaviruses. 3 In children, there is also some evidence that the virus continues to shed in the stool for up to a month postinfection. 4 This raises the possibility of fecal-oral transmission during the convalescence stage.Another important route of transmission, particularly for healthcare workers, is aerosol particles. Anesthetists, intensive care physicians, emergency physicians, and some surgical specialities (eg ENT) are involved in airway procedures that generate aerosols, such as bag-mask ventilation, intubation, and extubation. This puts them at AbstractPediatric anesthetists have an important role to play in the management of patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. In many institutions, the COVID-19 intubation teams are staffed with anesthetists as the proceduralists working throughout the hospitals also in the ICU and Emergency Departments. As practitioners who perform aerosol generating procedures involving the airway, we are at high risk of exposure to the virus SARS-CoV-2 and need to ensure we are well prepared and trained to manage such cases. This article reviews the relevant pediatric literature surrounding COVID-19 and summarizes the key recommendations for anesthetists involved in the care of children during this pandemic.