Introduction:Encephalocele, midline defect of cranial bone fusion, occurs most frequently in the occipital region. Airway management in pediatric patients with craniofacial disorders poses many challenges to the anesthesiologist. The purpose of this study is to describe the airway problems encountered for such cases, and describe how these problems were managed.Materials and Methods:We reviewed the charts of occipital encephalocele newborn that were treated by surgical correction in Harran University Hospital during 2006–2008. The collected data were categorized into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data.Results:The mean age of the patients was 5.17 days. Of these 17 patients, eight patients (47.1%) had hydrocephaly, one patient (5.8%) with Dandy Walker syndrome. Micrognathia, macroglossia, restriction in neck movements were recorded as the reasons in six cases each. No major anesthetic complication was found.Conclusions:We reported perioperative management in 17 occipital encephalocele infant. Comprehensive care during peroperative period is essential for successful outcome.

Analysis of serum thiol levels and SH/SS homeostasis might be useful in order to determine the head trauma in pediatric patients.

Objective/Aims: To emphasize the importance of diagnosis and treatment of unusually localized hydatid cysts in pediatric cases. Methods: Hydatid cyst patients of two departments were listed who had undergone surgery between January 2001 and December 2008. Of the 7 pediatric patients, 3 were chosen as the ones with unusual localization. Cyst removal with Dowling’s technique was performed in 2 cases and total removal of the cyst wall was achieved after cyst aspiration in the other patient. Results: Two patients did not show any signs of recurrence. Some of the cranial multiple cysts of the patient who had undergone her first surgery in another clinic with cyst rupture were successfully removed in our clinic. Six months later, she was admitted with spinal seedings. Conclusion: Hydatid cyst removal without rupture should be the surgical goal in all cases. Radiological evaluation is of utmost importance for differential diagnosis. When a cystic lesion is found in the central nervous system on radiological evaluation, hydatid disease must be considered in countries where the disease is endemic and surgery is to be planned emergently especially for pediatric cases with increased intracranial pressure. The study focuses on the strategy for the correct diagnosis and the appropriate treatment of unusually localized hydatid cysts.

For preemptive analgesia for acute postoperative pain in laminectomy surgery, which remains a major concern, we suggest that lidocaine infiltration onto the dorsal neural sheath immediately before retraction of the root may extend the time before analgesia requested and the total analgesic drug consumption.

It is possible to estimate the spinal alignment in standing position with the measurements of cervical spinal alignment in the MRI at supine position. And this may render having cervical graphy in standing position unnecessary.