Pediatric Anesthesiology in South Africa

This is a medical doctor who has special training in general anesthesia, sedation and pain management of infants, children, and adolescents. Their expertise makes them specially qualified to treat children and make the hospital experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible. They assist in managing your child’s anxiety before surgery and pain after surgery. They also assist in some procedures that require the child to be under general anesthesia or sedated.

Most pediatric surgeons deliver care to children alongside a pediatric anesthesiologist. Children who require surgery or other procedure have complex medical problems, which also affect other parts of the body. A pediatric anesthesiologist has the expertise needed to accurately evaluate the problems and decide on the safest anesthetic for the child.

Pediatric anesthesiologists are medical physicians who have had at least 4 years o medical school, one-year internship in anesthesiology, 3 years of residency in anesthesiology and additional training in pediatric anesthesiology. They choose to make pediatric care their main practice and this gives them the experience to treat children.

• Planning of anesthesiological care before, during and after surgery.
• Evaluation of medical problems in children when surgery is required.
• Providing anesthesia care during surgical procedures
• Pain control and management after surgery
• Anesthesia care and sedation for procedures such as CT scan MRI and radiation therapy.
• Fostering a relaxed environment for children in the operating room.

Some medical procedures require the child to be completely still such as the MRI. This is to ensure accuracy. The machines may make the child feel threatened or claustrophobic. Moreover, the procedure may take some time and the child will need to be sedated so that they can relax and be still.

Sedative medications and anesthesia cause the muscles to relax including the stomach, esophagus and throat muscles. This may allow stomach contents to come up into the throat and they may get to the windpipe or lungs which can cause serious lung infections.

Anesthesia is usually used to take away the pain and discomfort during and after surgery. Parents are concerned about the harm that anesthesia may cause to their children. The risk varies depending on the type of surgical procedure, the age of the child and if there other existing problems or illnesses. In addition, each anesthesia has a specific set of risks associated with it. The benefits should be weighed against the risks.