from the editor

Something for Everyone As We Look Forward to the Annual Meeting

By Sean Flack, MBChB, FCA
SPA News Editor

I work at an academic institution and that means trying to balance the triad of clinical, academic and research responsibilities (with some administrative work added for good measure).  In this edition of the newsletter, I hope you will find that we have an article or two that address each of these equally important aspects of pediatric anesthesia.

The annual meeting in San Diego (October 23 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt) is just a matter of weeks away and the program chair, Nina Deutsch, MD, has written a super summary of the program to entice anyone still wondering whether a quick trip to San Diego is a good idea. There truly is something for everyone during what promises to be a great meeting.

To kick off what I hope will become a regular regional anesthesia feature in the newsletter, Franklin Chiao, MD describes the use of ultrasound to supplement the standard approach to caudal placement in children. Despite being the most common block performed by pediatric anesthesiologists, failure rates of 10-20% persist and increased use of ultrasound in this clinical setting makes good sense.

As a counterpoint to this technology, another wonderful article from our society’s Committee on International Education and Service (SPACIES) provides personal testimonies from two anesthesia trainees working in settings where bedside ultrasound remains an unrealized luxury.

In the last newsletter, we highlighted the accomplishments of the Pediatric Regional Anesthesia Network (PRAN). In this edition, Manon Haché MD updates us on the patient safety work accomplished by Wake Up Safe. How often is anesthesia the primary (or secondary) cause of a serious safety event? Dr Haché has the answer!

Finally, in case the summer kept you outside (or inside an OR) rather than catching up on the literature, Liz Yun, MD succinctly reviews pediatric articles published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia last year.

So, hopefully something for every member to enjoy. I look forward to seeing everyone in San Diego.