Anesthesia for pediatric airway endoscopy

Anesthesia for endoscopic assessment and treatment of airway problems in infants and children requires a systematic and thoughtful approach. The anesthesiologist and otolaryngologist should have a sound knowledge of the causes of airway obstruction. The anesthesiologist must be aware of the instrumentation likely to be used and the endoscopist must be well informed about the principles of anesthesia. The choice of technique depends upon the needs for each patient, but in mast cases, the safest and most controlled method is a gaseous induction with assisted spontaneous respiration and continued maintenance by the inhalational method, supplemented by topically applied local anesthesia.