Does the Italian pediatric anesthesia training program adequately prepare residents for future clinical practice? What should be done?

Background: Pediatric anesthesia should be considered a subspecialty addressing the complete pediatric population (from preterm to teenager) and requiring particular anatomical, pathophysiological, pharmacological and anesthesiological knowledge. A survey was conducted to evaluate the training in pediatric anesthesia performed by Medical Schools of Anesthesia in Italy and to assess if the European Federation of Associations of Pediatric Anesthesia (FEAPA) guidelines for training in pediatric anesthesia had been adopted.

Methods: The survey was addressed to the Directors of the Departments of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of the Medical Schools throughout Italy using a questionnaire.

Results: We contacted all 37 Schools of Anesthesia, but only 26 of these (70 %) answered all the questions. A specific training program exists in 24 (92%). The duration of the training is variable: in 40% of the schools it lasts 2 months, in 27% 3 months and in 33% more than 3 months (3-6 months). Only 29% of the Schools required a minimum number of procedures to be performed during the training period. A final test is performed in 46% of the Schools. A dedicated staff for pediatric anesthesia exists in 70% of the Italian Schools.

Conclusions: In Italy, the FEAPA guidelines have not yet been completely adopted. The experience of a dedicated unit for pediatric anesthesia will be invaluable to define operative guidelines, courses and to establish the minimum equipment necessary for pediatric management in nonspecialist hospitals.