FREQUENCY OF LARYNGOSPASM AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTOR AMONG PEDIATRIC PATIENTS UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA DURING EXTUBATION AT LADY READING HOSPITAL PESHAWAR

Abstract

Noted complication of anesthesia for children is laryngospasm. This is when someone closing their vocal cords, thus obstructing the airway, which is particularly troublesome when it occurs during the anesthesia recovery phase. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of laryngospasm for children undergoing general anesthesia, as well as determine the risk factors associated with it. This was a descriptive study with a target group of 281 individuals under 15 years which was conducted in tertiary level hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, and these patients were undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgical procedures. Information was gathered by means of a predetermined survey and it was analyzed using the 22nd version of SPSS. Results showed that laryngospasm occurs with the frequency of 53.3%, with the principal risk factors being too light anesthesia, airway blockage, and airway injury, as well as respiratory infection. Sevoflurane was the most commonly used induction and mask anesthesia. Problems that were described included difficult intubation and multiple maneuvers for airway obstruction and ventilation. More experienced anesthetists, with few in number, caused less complications on patients. The results of this study advocate the need for systematic investigation when deciding the anesthetic technique for children, as well as their careful monitoring, in addition to prompt treatment to laryngospasm which deals with improving the safety of children in the peri anesthesia period.