PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIA IN A DEVELOPING-COUNTRY

During the week of October 15-24, 1995 a team of 65 medical, anaesthes iology, surgical, nursing and paramedical personnel travelled to Guate mala City, Guatemala to perform cardiac surgery on children with compl ex congenital and acquired valvular heart disease. During this mission 42 patients had their lesions surgically repaired. Cardiopulmonary by pass was required in 36 cases. There were no anaesthetic or surgical d eaths. All six patients who did not require cardiopulmonary bypass wer e extubated in the operating room. Of the patients who required cardio pulmonary bypass, 23 were extubated in the operating room (64%). There was no intraoperative anaesthetic morbidity nor postoperative respira tory complications. No patient was reintubated after planned extubatio n. Cardiac surgery in paediatric age patients can safely be performed in developing countries if close attention is paid to proper patient s election and one maintains the standards of care practised in develope d countries.