Comparison of Tidal Volume Between Pediatric Anaesthesia and Paediatric Intensive Care Patients: Retrospective Study

Protective positive pressure ventilation (tidal volume ≤6 mL/kg) in adult patients in intensive care is currently considered as a standard procedure. It is associated with a reduction of morbidity and positive outcome. In paediatric patients there are available only limited information related to the size of the tidal volume and it is recommended to use the volume between 5 and 8 mL per kg for the whole spectrum of ages of pediatric patients. The aim of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate the tidal volumes used in clinical practice in pediatric patients during general anesthesia and compared it to the tidal volumes used in paediatric critical care. Data will be harvested from the anaesthesiology records and from the paediatric intensive care unit charts. The tidal volume will calculated per kg of actual weight.