Pediatric resuscitation in the operating room.

The resuscitation of pediatric patients undergoing anesthesia involves appropriate administration of fluid and blood products and stabilization of vital signs. Crystalloid is first-line therapy for fluid resuscitation, and should be given with awareness of its potential dilution of the child's hematocrit. Many alternatives to homologous blood transfusions now exist, however, when necessary for increasing oxygen-carrying capacity or treating coagulopathy benefits likely outweight the risks. The risks for such transfusion include infectious, hemolytic, metabolic, and immunologic effects. When fluid and blood administration does not stabilize the patient, the differential diagnosis of hypotension, arrest, or arrhythmias must include medication errors, anesthetic overdose, electrolyte disturbances, hypoxemia, ventilatory problems, and surgical insults, including medications given in the operative field. Resuscitation should include treatment of hypocalcemia and hyperkalemia, chest compressions, and the administration of epinephrine when necessary.