緒言とまとめ

Pediatric Anesthesia：An Update

　小児麻酔は，われわれ麻酔科医にとって必ず知識と技術を習得しなくてはならない分野である。この小児麻酔領域においても，医療やそれを取り巻く技術の進歩や社会状況の変化によって大きく様変わりしている。このような現況を鑑み，麻酔科医の皆様へ小児麻酔の最新の知識をお伝えするべく本特集を計画した。

　Current topics in pediatric anesthesia are highlighted in this review, and the management of anesthesia for newborns, for laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery, and for cardiovascular surgery are described by an expert in each of these fields. New insights in pediatric intensive care medicine, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, ultrasound-guided approaches for vascular access, and techniques for the sedation of children undergoing an MRI examination are described in detail. All anesthesiologists can update their knowledge and skills for providing optimal pediatric anesthesia with the information summarized herein.