Anaesthesia Technique Evaluation: Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization

Dr Werner Frossmann in 1926, was the pioneer in introducing the concept of cardiac catheterization in human beings. Cardiac catheterization in the pediatric population was first reported by Dexter and his colleagues in 1947. Since, congenital heart diseases occur in 0.3% to 1.2% of all live births, the pediatric patients are therefore, the frequent visitors to our cardiac catheterization laboratory. The typical nature of the pediatric age group and the stringent requirements of the cardiac catheterization procedures warrant the need for a calm, motionless, anxiety-less and sedated patient. Various techniques of anaesthesia using different drugs independently or in combination have been tried till date but none has stood ideal so far. In this study, we evaluated Propofol and ketamine for their efficacy to achieve maximal and near to ideal criterias required for anaesthetizing pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterization procedures. We also compared, evaluated and discussed their advantages and disadvantages on various parameters needed to accomplish an accurate cardiac chamber study for conducting various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions