A review of dexamethasone as an adjunct to adenotonsillectomy in the pediatric population.

Although one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in children and frequently performed as outpatient surgery, the postoperative course following tonsillectomy may include nausea, vomiting, poor oral intake, and pain. These problems may last days into the postoperative course. Although opioids may be used to treat the pain, comorbid conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea may mandate limiting the dose and the frequency of administration.

Utilization of a postoperative adenotonsillectomy teaching video: A pilot study.

Background: Pediatric tonsillectomies are increasingly being performed as an outpatient procedure thereby increasing the parental role in post-operative pain management. However, it is unclear if parents receive adequate teaching regarding pain management. We introduced a video teaching tool and compared its efficacy alone and in combination with the standard verbal instruction.

Bradycardia in a Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipient: Is It the Sugammadex?

Sugammadex is a novel pharmacologic agent that is used to selectively reverse the effects of the neuromuscular blocking agents rocuronium and vecuronium. Various advantages have been reported when comparing its reversal of neuromuscular blockade to that achieved with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (neostigmine). In heart transplant recipients, bradycardia may occur following the administration of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, due to the denervation of the heart.

Discontinuous insurance coverage predicts prolonged hospital stay after pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

Background: Changes in health insurance coverage have been implicated in limiting access to care and increasing morbidity risk. The consequences of insurance discontinuity for surgical outcomes are unclear. In this study, we explored whether recent insurance discontinuity was associated with prolonged inpatient hospitalization after adenotonsillectomy in children.