Abstract

AIM: Complex anesthesia techniques may be needed during surgical procedures in premature infants due to the increased risks involved in general anesthesia. The aim of the study is to evaluat retrospectively our experiences about anesthesia techniques used in preterm infants during indirect laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 35 infants who undenvent laser therapy for ROP in our hospital between October 2006 and June 2008. RESULTS: Preoperatively, during the postnatal period 23 (65.7%) infants suffered from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), 15 (42.8%) and 25 (71.4%) infants had apnea and needed mechanical ventilation respectively. During laser surgery for ROP, all babies received general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. Postoperatively 9 (25.7%) infants needed mechanical ventilation and were observed in neonatal intensive care unit. Ten (28.5%) infants had apnea, 5 (14%) had cxygen desaturation, 1 (2.8%) had seizures and 1 (2.8%) had bradicardia. Fourteen (87.5%) babies with postoperative complications had bodyweights of under 2500g, and 12 (75%) of them had a shorter postconceptual age than 36 weeks postconceptual ages less than 36 weeks respectively at the time of the surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: The most preferred method of anesthesia in our clinic was general anesthesia with tracheal intubation for laser surgery in preterm infants with ROP. Because a high rate of complications was observed in infants weighing less than 2500g and in infants younger than 36 weeks of postconceptual age, intensive care is crucial during and after the operation.