Anesthesia Considerations 

Former Premature Infant

 

 

Considerations

 

• Current post conceptual age & apnea risk

• Congenital anomalies or syndromes

• Complications of prematurity:

  • Airway: tracheal stenosis & malacia, subglottic stenosis, aspiration risk from GERD 

  • Pulmonary: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, reactive airways, bullae, O2 dependency 

  • Cardiovascular: cardiomyopathy, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)

  • CNS: intraventricular hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, seizure disorders

  • Others: 

    • Retinopathy of prematurity

    • GERD/swallowing difficulties

    • Kidney disease