Equipment and monitoring for paediatric anaesthesia

Abstract

There have been considerable developments in the equipment and monitoring available for paediatric anaesthesia over the past 3 years. Advances in airway management have come about primarily through the increased use of videolaryngoscopes. Numerous second-generation supraglottic airway devices are also now available with features aimed at improving both their safety profile and utility during difficult airway management. Concerns surrounding the endocrine effects of phthalates have led to the introduction of phthalate-free airway devices. The role of ultrasound continues to expand, with good evidence for its use where vascular access is challenging, while evidence in favour of alternative vascular access aids remains sparse. Smartphones and tablets have become an almost ubiquitous part of the paediatric anaesthetist's armoury, functioning as distraction devices for children and providing a wealth of useful information through applications. A number of cardiac output monitors are now available for use in paediatric anaesthesia and, with the advent of enhanced recovery programmes after surgery, it is likely that their use will increase in the future. This review will discuss a number of these devices and provide insight into the rationale for their use, focusing on those for which the best evidence is available.