Anaesthesia in SARS-CoV-2 infected children – single-centre experience. A case-control study

BACKGROUND: Although manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is gene-rally mild or asymptomatic, anaesthetic implications of the infection in children are still a matter of concern. Single reports suggest that patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at higher risk of anaesthetic complications. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, case control study analysing the risk of general anaesthesia in SARS-CoV-2 infected children admitted to a tertiary paediatric university hospital for the purpose of urgent procedures requiring anaesthesia between April 1(st) and September 30(th), 2021. The control group consisted of SARS-CoV-2 negative children consecutively anaesthetised for the same reasons during the first month of observation. Our hypothesis was: general anaesthesia can be safely performed in SARS-CoV-2 infected children. Study endpoints: primary – anaesthetic respiratory complications (bronchospasm, laryngospasm, intraoperative desaturation below 94%, desaturation below 94% after awakening, unplanned postoperative mechanical ventilation); secondary – hospital length of stay, thrombotic, cardiac, haemorrhagic events, ICU admission, deaths during hospitalisation. RESULTS: The examined group consisted of 58 SARS-CoV-2 infected children, the matched control group of 198 patients. The rate of complications in both groups was very low, with no significant difference between the groups. The only differences observed were a higher frequency of desaturations in the awakening period and longer time of hospitalisation in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that physical status of the patient and duration of the procedure were the main factors influencing the risk of complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience anaesthesia of SARS-CoV-2 infected children can be safely performed.