Anaesthesia for paediatric urology

Paediatric urological surgery encompasses a wide spectrum of procedures ranging from simple day-case operations such as circumcision to complex cases such as correction of bladder exstrophy undertaken in specialist centres. The anaesthetic techniques used vary according to age, requirements of the surgeon, and medical status of the patient. The majority of urological problems in children are congenital and therefore distinct from those in adults. This article describes the anaesthetic management of the more commonly performed paediatric urological procedures and also includes a discussion of some of the more complex conditions.