Congenital syndromes in paediatric anaesthesia: what is important to know

In this review, principles for the management of anaesthesia for children with congenital syndromes have been outlined, with little reference to specific drugs or techniques. Thus, newer drugs or approaches, which may not yet appear in case reports or in the older literature on the syndromes, may be considered appropriate according to the clinical experience of the anaesthetist who has an understanding of the problems created by the presence of an individual syndrome. Genetics is relevant in the emerging emphasis on the role of anaesthetists as perioperative physicians. However, the future is in the drug response variability and pain response aspects.