Down Syndrome child in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality in newborns, with a high incidence in Chile. This condition presents unique physiological aspects that should be known, which can affect the child during their stay in an Intensive Care Unit, beyond the neonatal period This review is focused on the respiratory, cardiovascular, infectious and neurological disorders. Anesthetic management and postoperative analgesia considerations, weaning from mechanical ventilation, cervical spine instability and prognosis of the critically ill child with Down syndrome are also analyzed. The evaluation of these conditions should be performed when the patient is admitted to the intensive care unit. The purpose of this update is to update the knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of potential complications of children with Down syndrome during their stay in the unit of critical patient.