The rising prevalence of asthma in childhood means that anesthetists are encountering children with this disorder scheduled for surgery with increasing frequency (1–3). The increase in the volume of daycase surgery has limited the time available for the assessment of both the child’s medical condition and possible anesthetic risk (4). However, adverse events during anesthesia of children with asthma are fortunately rare (5). Nonetheless, the potential remains for routine anesthesia to become complicated or even dangerous. In this article, the literature relevant to the child with asthma and progress through preoperative, operative, and postoperative care is reviewed.
