ANESTHESIA FOR BURNS IN CHILDREN - A REVIEW OF PROCEDURES PRACTICED AT RED-CROSS-WAR-MEMORIAL-CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL, CAPE-TOWN

Burns anaesthesia for children is a potentially hazardous procedure, W e describe our technique developed over a number of years which allows a relatively large number of patients to be dealt with safely in limi ted theatre time. The technique involves an oral premedication with at ropine (0.02 mg/kg), trimeprazine (3 mg/kg) and droperidol (0.2 mg/kg) . Intramuscular ketamine (10 mg/kg) is used after an initial halothane induction and anaesthesia is maintained with intravenous ketamine, an d a nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture given via nasal prongs The advantages of the technique together with precautions and monitoring employed ar e discussed.