Pharmacologic Considerations of Anesthetic Agents in Pediatric Patients

• Published in: Anesthesiology clinics Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. e73 - e94
• Main Authors: Kaye, Alan D., PhD, DABA, DABPM, DABIPP, Fox, Charles J., MD, Padnos, Ira W., MD, Ehrhardt, Kenny P., MD, Diaz, James H., MD DrPH, Cornett, Elyse, PhD, Chandler, Debbie, MD, Sen, Sudipta, MD, Patil, Shilpadevi, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2017
• Subjects: Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Pediatrics; Pain; Analgesics; Pharmacokinetics; Anesthetics
• ISSN: 1932-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anclin.2017.01.012

Acute pain in the pediatric population has important differences in terms of biology, intrapopulation variation, and epidemiology. Discussion as to the pharmacologic considerations of anesthetic agents, such as induction agents, neuromuscular blockers, opioids, local anesthetics, and adjuvant agents, is presented in this article. Special considerations and concerns, such as risk for propofol infusion syndrome and adverse potential side effects of anesthesia agents, are discussed. Anesthesiologists managing pediatric patients need to have a firm understanding of physiologic and pharmacologic differences compared with the adult population. Future studies to improve the understanding of pharmacokinetics in the pediatric population are needed.