Anesthésie de l'enfant à l'estomac plein : faut-il abandonner l'induction en séquence rapide ?

Rapid sequence induction includes preoxygenation, rapid injection of predetermined doses of a hypnotic agent and succinylcholine, cricoid pressure, and tracheal intubation before any mechanical ventilation. In adults and children, it is the gold standard for anesthetic induction of patients with a full stomach. However, several changes have been considered for this technique, and different “modified” rapid sequence inductions have been suggested. In the context of pediatric rapid sequence induction, this review will discuss the importance and optimization of preoxygenation, the interest of cricoid pressure, the choice of anesthetic agents and their technique of administration, the risks and potential benefits of beginning mechanical ventilation before tracheal intubation.