"Director Chen, My baby is so young.Is general anesthesia necessary for surgery?"
"Will general anesthesia affect my child's intelligence?"
"My child is so young, can anesthesia be used?"….
These are some representative questions I often encounter regarding anesthesia. Recently, many parents have left a deep impression on me.
The last patient of the day, the whole family drove 2 hours to Wuhan
This was the last patient of the day. The child's mother said they originally planned to come to Wuhan next week. However, at 2 p.m., they found out there was one last appointment left that afternoon, so they immediately changed their plans and rushed over. It was a journey of over 2 hours by car.
The child has a type 4 polydactyly, also known as "crab claw fingers," which is quite complex.The mother wanted the child to undergo surgery as soon as possible but had concerns about general anesthesia.She was afraid it might impact the child's future intellectual development and also wanted to understand more about combined anesthesia.
As a father, I completely understand the emotions of the parents. Anesthesia is a unfamiliar concept for them, and it's normal for them to have concerns about its safety. Asking more questions not only dispels their doubts but also reminds the doctor to pay more attention to anesthesia safety.
Why is general anesthesia necessary for babies before surgery?
Unlike adults, babies need to lie still.Without general anesthesia, it's difficult to control the baby's emotions and behavior during surgery.Even a slight movement can affect the incision or sutures, so it's best for the baby to be in a quiet state.
If the patient is a teenager or an adult, brachial plexus anesthesia can be considered.Therefore, the decision on whether general anesthesia is required depends on the individual's age.
Does general anesthesia affect a child's IQ?
Before addressing this question, let's understand what conditions could impact a child's IQ.Generally, prolonged lack of oxygen can cause irreversible damage to the brain, potentially affecting a child's intellectual development.
In the case of general anesthesia for surgery, a tube is inserted to ensure the child breathes normally throughout the procedure.For surgeries related to limb deformities, the duration is not too long, and short-term general anesthesia does not adversely affect the brain.
Which is better: General Anesthesia or Combined Anesthesia?
In fact, combined anesthesia is a form of general anesthesia.An anesthesiologist administers a precise dose of anesthesia for the child to enter a deep sleep state.Then, local analgesics are applied to the surgical site.In other words, the child is in a comfortable state during the surgery, wakes up without fatigue, and does not experience pain during the process.
Precautions before and after surgery:
1.Fasting for 4-8 hours before surgery
The purpose of fasting is for safety reasons. The stimulation caused by anesthesia drugs may lead to nausea and vomiting. If vomited food is aspirated into the trachea, it can cause serious conditions such as choking and pneumonia.
Generally, for formula-fed babies, fasting is required for 6 hours before surgery. For breastfed babies, fasting is required for 4 hours before surgery. If the baby consumes non-protein food, fasting for 6 hours is needed;for protein-containing food, fasting for 8 hours is recommended.
2.Avoid symptoms such as colds, fever, and coughing before surgery
For surgeries requiring general anesthesia and intubation, having phlegm or similar conditions increases the risk of anesthesia.For the child's safety, it is recommended to postpone surgery for 2 weeks after recovering completely from a cold, cough, or fever.
3.Postoperative care considerations
After surgery, care should be taken in the following aspects:
(1)Pay attention to the airway, whether there is shortness of breath or phlegm;
(2)Monitor for fever;
(3)Ensure that the dressing does not slip or press on the affected area.