This study demonstrates a high incidence of PRAE in paediatric surgical patients without respiratory tract infections, which appears to be primarily determined by the age of the child and the anaesthetic care rather than by the child's medical history.

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I), although first described by the French surgeon Ambroise Paré as far back as the 16th century, nevertheless remains shrouded in mystery. The most common symptoms are pain in an entire hand or foot, allodynia, functional impairment induced by the pain, local oedema and skin color changes and transient sweating abnormalities. Most cases occur after a minor injury (i.e., a sprain or fracture), although there may be no identifiable triggering event, particularly in children. Primarily cold CRPS-I is by far the most common variant in children. Development of the Budapest criteria has benefited the diagnosis. These criteria are clinical and no specific diagnostic investigation is available. In vitro and in vivo studies have established that several pathogenic mechanisms can be involved concomitantly. However, there is no satisfactory explanation to the full clinical spectrum. Blood tests and imaging studies are useful for ruling out other diagnoses then monitoring the course of the condition, which may involve the development of demineralisation or osteopenia. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography may be helpful, as it provides quantitative assessments of the cortical and trabecular bone. CRPS-I has several specific characteristics in children compared to adults and whether the condition is the same entity in these two age groups is a legitimate question. The optimal management involves an early diagnosis followed by a multidisciplinary management programme of functional rehabilitation therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Analgesics are useful only during the phase of acute pain and to facilitate physical therapy. Studies in adults showed that bisphosphonates were effective within the first 12 months after symptom onset and calcitonin in longer-lasting cases. No high-quality clinical research studies into the aetiopathogenesis and treatment of CRPS-I in children and adolescents are available to date.

Of the many factors that may influence postoperative pain, chronic sleeping difficulties emerge in this population of patients as the strongest determinant of pain at rest. Intraperitoneal surgery and having a relative with a history of pain are the strongest determinants of pain during cough/mobilization. These findings make physiological sense and deserve more attention by anesthesiologists.

SummaryTrendelenburg positioning, a head-down tilt, is routinely used in anaesthesia when inserting a central venous catheter to increase the calibre of the jugular or subclavian veins and to prevent an air embolism. We investigated the impact of Trendelenburg positioning on functional residual capacity and ventilation homogeneity as well as the potential reversibility of these changes by repositioning and ⁄ or a recruitment manoeuvre in children with congenital heart disease.Functional residual capacity and ventilation homogeneity were assessed in 20 anaesthetised children between the ages of 3 months and 8 years who required central venous catheterisation before undergoing cardiac surgery. Functional residual capacity was measured (1) in the supine position, (2) in the Trendelenburg position, (3) after repositioning supine and (4) after a recruitment manoeuvre to total lung capacity which was performed by manually elevating the airway pressure to 40 cmH 2 O for ten consecutive breaths. Adopting the Trendelenburg position led to a significant decrease in functional residual capacity (median [range] ) 12 (6-21)%) and increase in lung clearance index (12 (2-19)%). Baseline values were not reached after repositioning supine in any patient until after a standardised recruitment manoeuvre was performed.

ABCB1 and OPRM genotypes are associated with clinically meaningful pain variability, whereas NTRK1 and COMT are linked to subclinical effects. This first but small cohort study provides clues to further explore the genetic foundations of pediatric pain.