Allergy

An allergy, on the other hand, should not be confused with a simple cold either, as in this case medication may be required before, during or after the operation to prevent the patient from suffering an allergic attack. In most cases, an allergy (except of course an allergy to anesthetics, as in malignant hyperthermia), as well as not a cold, is not a problem with anesthesia. Anaesthesia can be performed in spite of a cold in a child or infant, especially if it is a minor procedure or if it is absolutely necessary.

The cold only becomes problematic if it affects the child’s breathing or if the cold causes severe swelling of the airways. In this case, it is possible that the airways are so swollen due to the cold that ventilation of the child during the operation would only be possible under difficult conditions. If this is the case, the anesthesia should only be performed in the child or infant despite the cold if it is absolutely necessary.

If it is a planned operation or an operation that can easily be postponed, it is better to wait a few days until the cold has completely subsided and the swelling of the airways has subsided to such an extent that ventilation (intubation) is once again possible without problems. However, it is generally important not to confuse a simple cold with a common cold. If the child has a bit of a cold, anesthesia is easily possible despite the cold, and there are no complications.

A real cold with a high temperature and purulent sputum (mucusy cough), however, is associated with an increased rate of complications, which is why anesthesia should not be performed on a child or infant despite a cold. Since it is often difficult for parents to distinguish how sick the child really is and to what extent this could represent an increased complication rate in the operation, it is important to clarify in advance with the anesthesiologist (anaesthetist) exactly when the child has had the symptoms and how they manifest themselves. The anaesthetist can then assess, by looking down the throat (pharynx), how badly the airways are swollen and whether anaesthesia is possible without any problems or whether it would be better to postpone the operation if possible.

Since some emergency operations, such as an acute appendicitis, i.e. an acute appendicitis with the risk of an appendix rupturing (perforation), cannot be postponed, it is important that the parents know that the anaesthesia is usually completely problem-free and that a successful operation is possible despite difficult conditions. Often the child is not intubated during a short procedure, i.e. no tube for respiration is placed in the neck, but only a kind of mask at the beginning of the trachea.This form of ventilation and anaesthesia is possible without any problems. Nevertheless, the anesthesiologist should always assess whether he or she considers the operation to be so urgent that an anesthetic is required or whether it would be more advisable to postpone the operation.