Equipment and monitoring for paediatric anaesthesia

This article reviews the anaesthetic equipment and monitoring issues specific to paediatric anaesthesia. Guidance on selection of the appropriate size or settings of devices is given along with caveats focusing on the safe use and common problems with anaesthetic equipment for children. In areas where practice varies, the advantages and disadvantages of different choices are discussed and, where appropriate, practical advice is given. This review does not include a full description of the physical principles of all equipment and monitoring used in paediatric anaesthesia; rather it assumes a basic knowledge of their functioning and appropriate use in adult practice, and highlights the important differences in paediatric anaesthetics.