Monitored Anesthesia Care for the Pediatric Examination or Procedure

Abstract

Although there are many indications of pediatric monitored anesthesia care（MAC）such as cardiac catheterization, MRI, gastrointestinal endoscopy, and renal biopsy, anesthesiologists are able to provide MAC only to a few children due to the lack of manpower. In fact, the pediatrician or physician in charge is often called upon to provide sedation during an examination or procedure. As a result, the patient’s safety and comfort are compromised, and problems with the accuracy of the examination may occur. General anesthesia with tracheal intubation is preferable to deep sedation in cases of pediatric cardiac catheterization because the patient’s arterial CO₂ may be controlled more easily. In some cases, sedation or general anesthesia may be more risky than the examination or procedure itself, so it is important to discuss the need for the examination with the physician in charge before performing it. For high-risk anesthesia cases, the availability of an anesthesiologist is also very important.