There are various formulas and algorithms for the prediction of body weight and appropriate ETT size, in pediatric patients. Body Weight estimation is of paramount importance in pediatrics, especially in emergencies. Predicting the appropriate size of the endotracheal tube saves time, money and reduces complications. The goal of this study was to evaluate the validity of two commonly used formulas for predicting the body weight and the size of the appropriate endotracheal tube, both based on age.353 consecutive pediatric surgical patients aged 2 to 12 years, who required general anesthesia and oral endotracheal intubation were included in this study. Patients were stratified according to their age in two groups: group 2-5 (79 children, 2 to 5 years) and group 6-12 (274 children, 6 to 12 years). At the end of surgery an anesthesiologist, who was not involved in the perioperative treatment, recorded the demographic data and also the size and type of the endotracheal tube used. The prediction of Body Weight (BW) was made according to the following formula: 2-5 y.o.: Weight (kg) = (2 x age in years) + 8 and 6-12 y.o.: Weight (kg) = (3 x age in years) + 7. The formula for calculating the size (size= internal diameter=I.D.) of the endotracheal tube (ETT) was: I.D. for cuffed ETT (mm) = (age / 4) + 3.5 and I.D. for uncuffed ETT (mm) = (age / 4) + 4. For all statistical tests p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. In all patients as sum and in both age groups, the predicted body weight was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the actual (measured) weight. In group 2-5y.o, 74.7% of patients received cuffed ETT In group 6-12y.o. 100% of patients received cuffed ETT. In group 2-5 y.o, all patients showed a significantly (p<0.05) lower predicted internal diameter of the ETT, either cuffed or uncuffed, compared to ETT ultimately used. In group 6 -12y.o, there was no statistically significant difference between the predicted and the actually used ETT size. The prediction of body weight in children, by the use of the particular formula, led to underestimation. In children aged 2 to 5 years, the application of the inner diameter calculation of the ETT formula also underestimated the appropriate ETT size. It seems that the traditional age-based formulas often fail to predict the correct ETT size in smaller children which probably does not seem to apply to older children.
Continue readingDear colleagues,
From 2004, the presence of the Greek e-Journal of Perioperative Medicine among the National Scientific Journals has been gradually increased. On behalf of the editorial board of the Greek e-journal of the Perioperative Medicine, we would like to thank you for your support in order to reform and modernize our journal.
We would like to inform you that the Greek e-journal of the Perioperative Medicine is accepted in several indexing databases like DRJI – Directory of Research Journal Indexing, Research Bible, GIF.org, Journal Index.net, INNOSPACE, Unifactor.org, MJL-Medical journals Links, ICMJE- International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, CiteFactor.org, ISI-International Scientific Indexing, EZB – Universitätbibliothek Regensburg, OAJI – Open Access Journal Indexing, PBN-Polska Bibliografia Naukowa, ESJI- Eurasian Scientific Journal Index, ISRUS (EyeSource) – International society of Universal Research in Sciences, JIF – Global Society for Scientific Research and DOAJ – Directory of Open Access Journals.
Continue readingDear colleagues,
Traditional publishing is an ex cathedra affair, top down, hierarchical. Electronic publishing is essentially egalitarian1. That’s why the present journal had never adopted printed form.
Here, we would like to underline some of the changes that occurred in the journal. These changes were designed to maintain excellence while improving the efficiency of the review process and taking advantage of new technology. Thus, new features have been added in the article section and feedback surveys are planned to be performed in regular basis. New sections for bibliographic information and editorial board / reviewers’ panel have been added. Organizational changes for a better workflow are also en route. The journal is already accepted in several electronic databases (see “indexing” section), while application for inclusion in several others is also under way. For all the changes, every website visitor is invited to explore these new features.
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The aim of this study was to compare the combination of oral tramadol and midazolam to oral midazolam alone, in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy, as an oral premedication, regarding also sedation and postoperative pain relief. Sixty children selected for elective adenotonsillectomy were enrolled in this randomized, controlled prospective study. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group M (n=30) received 0.5 mg.kg-1 oral midazolam and group MT (n=30) received 0.2 mg.kg-1 oral midazolam with 1 mg.kg-1 oral tramadol as a premedication 30min preoperatively. Standard general anesthesia technique was used.
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