General anesthesia without intravenous access in children--a survey of current practice among members of the APAGBI and UK regional representatives of the APAGBI and the AAGBI.

Background: The establishment of intravenous (IV) access should be considered for all adults and children undergoing general anesthesia. Inhalational induction prior to the establishment of IV access remains a popular technique in pediatric practice, and most practitioners will subsequently obtain IV access at the earliest opportunity. Previous surveys have indicated that some anesthetists may elect to omit IV access for the duration of anesthesia and surgery; however, the extent of this practice is unclear.

Anatomy and assessment of the pediatric airway.

Airway and respiratory complications are the most common causes of morbidity during general anesthesia in children. The airway changes in size, shape and position throughout its development from the neonate to the adult (1). Knowledge of the functional anatomy of the airway in children forms the basis of understanding the pathological conditions that may occur.

The caudal canal in children: a study using magnetic resonance imaging.

The anatomy of the caudal (sacral extradural) space was studied in 41 children, using magnetic resonance imaging. The distance from the upper margin of the sacrococcygeal membrane to the dural sac, the length of the membrane and the maximum depth of the caudal space were each measured. Age, height, weight and body surface area were recorded and, using multiple linear regression (stepwise technique), equations predicting the length of the membrane and the distance between its upper margin and the lower limit of the dural sac were obtained.