Airway patency in children for dental therapeutic procedures in ambulatory practice

Abstract

This article presents a literature review of basic concepts of artificial airway patency in children during anesthetic management for prolonged dental procedures in outpatient surgery (MedLine, PubMed). The following considers the necessity to protect airways from the moment of onset of deep sedation, when verbal contact with a child is not always adequate, the le-vel of reflex activity is reduced, and vital functions control is not complete yet without additional supporting mechanisms. Airway patency management and selection algorithms are given depen-ding on various factors, such as the duration and invasiveness of dental intervention, the characteristics of the child’s anatomy, and concomitant pathologies, as well as associated emergency conditions with a strategy for their prevention. Comparative cha-racteristics of the use of laryngeal devices and various intubation techniques in the aspect of pediatric dentistry have been carried out. A separate paragraph in the article highlights the methods of monitoring in the operating theatre and the strategy of the Difficult Airway Society, the support and implementation of which is mandatory in any private structures of pediatric outpatient anesthesia practice in Europe and America.