Anaesthetic considerations for syndromic children undergoing eye surgery

SummaryAmong children brought into specialized centres and hospitals, we find that many who require eye examinations and surgery have inherent diseases and syndromes that require special peri-operative care and attention. The practice of paediatric anaesthesia requires the anaesthesiologist to recognize physical dysmorphism and co-existing morbidity commonly found within this population. Their presentation during the pre-operative assessment should help us define a review of three important systems to delineate recommendations and the need for specialized postoperative care. Because of structural anatomical and genetic variability the airway and respiratory system, the cardiac system and the neuromuscular system entails sedative and anaesthetic risks that are higher in this group. In this review, a summary of peri-operative anaesthetic concerns are discussed when confronted with syndromic children for outpatient surgery at an eye hospital.