Are multiple short-time general anesthesia in children safe procedures?

Introduction. Children treated for cancer often require diagnostic and therapeutic procedures conducted in short-term general anesthesia.
Complications that may occur after general anesthesia include among others: side effects from respiratory or cardiovascular systems, mental
disorders, pain, nausea and vomiting.

Aim of the study. The aim of the study was analysis of type and frequency of side effects during and after short-time general anesthesia in
children treated for malignancies. Age, general condition according to American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) and type of anesthetic
drug were taken into consideration.

Materials and methods. The study group consisted of 29 patients (17 girls and 12 boys) treated at the Department of Pediatric Oncology and
Hematology, Children’s Teaching Hospital in Bialystok. In this group 136 times general anesthesia was performed (69 in girls and 67 in boys).

Results. Among studied patients 18 were younger than 5 years old, 8 were in between 5–10 years old and 3 were older than 10. 26 patients had general anesthesia to perform diagnostic procedures. In 3 children general anesthesia was used before radiotherapy.
Patients were qualified to the general anesthesia after assessment according ASA. During 136 procedures 20 (14,7%) side effects were observed. Allergy symptoms were observed in 7/20 cases (35% of all side effects), problems with respiration were observed in 6/20
patients (30% of all side effects) and vomiting was present in 4/20 children (20% of all side effects). Aggressive behavior, hyperactivity and hallucinations were observed after 3 procedures (15% of all side effects).
In patients younger than 5 years old, in 14 out of 104 cases the side effects were observed, mainly the respiratory problems. In children between 5 and 10 years old, 22 procedures were carried out, in which 3 side effects were observed, mainly allergic symptoms. Children older than 10 had 10 procedures and 3 side effects during general anesthesia. In the studied group all patients were anesthetized multiple times.

Conclusions. Short- time general anesthesia used for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons in children are safe procedures. Observed side effects are rare, of short duration and are not life-threatening.