Introduction:

Neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory system pathologies are frequently accompanied by pediatric scoliosis surgery. The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics, operation characteristics, and complications associated with anesthesia and surgery in pediatric patients undergoing scoliosis surgery.

Material and Methods:

In this study, 33 pediatric patients undergoing elective scoliosis surgery were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, surgical procedure data, complications related anesthesia or surgery were examined in terms of anesthesia management. Medications, concomitant diseases, laboratory values, postoperative service and intensive care unit records were obtained from the university database.

Results:

The mean age of thirty-three patients was 13.09 ± 2.98 years. Three patients had meningomyelocele and one had neuromuscular disease. 72.7 % of patients (24 patients) have thoracolumbar scoliosis. The duration of anesthesia and surgery was 241.21 ± 55.55 min and 214.84 ± 54.55 min, respectively. The mean number of instrumented level was 10.78 ± 3.54. Blood transfusion was performed in 97 % of the patients (32 patients). All patients were transferred to the intensive care unit in the postoperative period. In each two patients, bradycardia and hypotension were observed. In the perioperative period, the mean blood loss of the patients was 843.93 ± 246.14 mL.

Conclusion:

Pediatric scoliosis surgery; is an important orthopedic procedure which may results in serious intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain and can be accompanied by syndromes, difficult airway management, serious respiratory and circulatory system complications during perioperative and postoperative period. Evaluation of localization and the extent of curvature, length of surgery, concomitant diseases and congenital anomalies are important for the management of anesthesia in patients undergoing pediatric scoliosis surgery.

Keywords: Anesthesia management, Pediatric scoliosis, Spinal surgery, Kyphoscoliosis