Indications for use of artificial ventilation and its complications in pediatric surgery

Artificial respiration is often indicated in the child surgical patient preoperatively, as well as postoperatively because of the specific features of this age group. The characteristics of the respiratory function which are various in different ages, as well as the preoperative condition of the child and the nature of the surgical procedure and anaesthesia are factors which influence the indications for artificial respiration. Of particular importance is the neonatal period of the child where beside the immaturity of vital functions, and a high metabolism level with small calorie reserves, as well as a large consumption of oxygen, there is the addition of stress due to the surgical procedure and anaesthesia which can seriously endanger respiration. The paper analyzes indications for applying artificial respiration at the Clinic for Child Surgery in Novi Sad during a five-year period. Ways of applying artificial respiration, its parameters, as well as the complications during its use are followed. Artificial respiration was applied in 82 children, 46.34% were newborns operated on because of ileus conditions and 43.90% were larger children treated due to polytrauma. The most frequent complications were in the group of newborns: pneumonia, atelectasis, ductus arteriosus opening, lung bleeding and pneumothorax.