Anesthetic Management of Scoliosis Surgery in Children

Abstract

Scoliosis is defined as an abnormal curvature of the spine, which, if severe enough, can affect pulmonary or cardiac function and ultimately require surgical repair. There are 3 well-defined types of scoliosis: idiopathic, neuromuscular, and congenital scoliosis. Anesthetic management of children undergoing posterior spinal fusion can be challenging due to patient comorbidities, the need for neuromonitoring, the potential for significant blood loss, and various perioperative complications. In addition, postoperative pain after spinal fusion is known to be severe and often exceeds those reported in other major surgical procedures. To properly care for these patients, it is vital to be knowledgeable about the anesthetic and pain management considerations of patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion.