Children's Surgery Center

Anesthesiology

For many parents, the idea of a child-undergoing anesthesia - medicines that make a child lose sensation or consciousness -- is as frightening as surgery.

The Division of Pediatric Anesthesia at UCSF Children's Hospital is comprised of highly trained, experienced anesthesiologists who understand the stressful nature of the surgical experience and the special needs of children and their parents. Pediatric anesthesiologists make a difference in caring for children who are going to undergo surgical or diagnostic procedures that require anesthesia or sedation, especially very young children under two years of age or very sick children. Pediatric anesthesiologists are physicians who have had at least a year of specialized training in anesthesia care of infants and children in addition to a one-year internship and three-year residency in anesthesia. The pediatric anesthesiologist's additional training and experience provides extra security and reassurance to the anxious parent.

We provide:

• Evaluation of complex medical problems in infants and children when surgery is needed
• Planning and care for before and after surgery
• A non-threatening environment for children in the operating room
• Pain control, if needed after surgery, either with intravenous (IV) medications or other anesthetic techniques
• Anesthesia and sedation for many procedures out of the operating room such as MRI, CT scan and radiation therapy

We care for children in the hospital operating rooms, the UCSF Ambulatory Surgery Center and other locations, including the Intensive Care Nursery and the Radiology Department. Twenty four-hour, seven-day a week coverage is provided for emergency procedures for any child less than 6 years of age or with special pediatric needs. The majority of our staff is board-certified in both anesthesiology and pediatrics, and all have years of clinical experience with children. Several members of our staff also work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit or the UCSF Comprehensive Pain Service.

The Pediatric Anesthesia Division provides anesthetic services to patients as young as fetuses and premature infants to adolescents and even adults if cared for by pediatric surgical subspecialists.

In the hospital, we provide anesthetic care to a mix of outpatients and inpatients. In the Ambulatory Surgery Center, we see only outpatients. In Radiology, we see both inpatients and outpatients, but the majority are outpatients. Our patients range from healthy children having minor procedures to critically ill patients or patients having complex operations.

For more information about Pediatric Anesthesiology at UCSF Children's Hospital, please call (415) 502-6620.

Staff

The staff of the Pediatric Anesthesia Division of the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care at the UCSF Children's Hospital currently consists of seven doctors whose primary clinical focus is taking care of children. In addition to the anesthesia and surgical staffs trained to work with children, we work with a dedicated group of nurses who have chosen to spend most of their time with pediatric patients. This makes for a more consistent environment and improves communication and ultimately, care.

Dr. Atsuko Baba, pediatric anesthesiologist

Dr. Baba is the newest member of our division but came already highly trained in pediatric anesthesiology. She did her fellowship and was on staff at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She also has an interest in anesthesia for trauma and worked at the Shock/Trauma Institute in Maryland. She came highly recommended and has already made an impact on our division.

Dr. Claire Brett, pediatric anesthesiologist

Dr. Brett has been a member of the staff since 1984. She is not only board certified in anesthesiology and pediatrics, but also in the pediatric subspecialties of neonatology and critical care medicine. She is invaluable in our division as a liaison with the Radiology Department. We do many anesthetics for diagnostic radiology studies in children where communication and coordination is especially vital. She also is active in research and teaching.

Dr. Charles Cauldwell, chief of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia

Dr. Cauldwell, division chief, came to UCSF from the Children's Hospital of Michigan where he was chief of the Anesthesia Department. He is a member of the Fetal Treatment Center and delivers anesthesia for fetal surgery. He trained in pediatrics in Seattle and Vancouver, Canada, anesthesia at UCSF and pediatric anesthesia at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. George Gregory, pediatric anesthesiologist

Dr. Gregory is a founding father of pediatric anesthesiology and neonatology. After completing his anesthesiology residency at UCSF Medical Center, he investigated why premature infants had so much difficulty breathing and developed a new way of helping small premature infants to breathe, making a major contribution to the field of neonatology. He has worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, as well as the operating rooms for several decades. He also has been a member of the Liver Transplant Team since its inception. He lectures all over the world and has edited one of the major textbooks on pediatric anesthesia. He regularly travels to Central and South America to deliver anesthesia to children.

Dr. Andrew Infosino, director of Pediatric Anesthesia at San Francisco General Hospital

Dr. Infosino is not only a member of our division but is also the director of Pediatric Anesthesia at San Francisco General Hospital. He trained in pediatrics in New York, anesthesia at UCSF Medical Center and pediatric anesthesia at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He also has delivered anesthesia to children in Central America. He has a major interest in resident physician education and has developed teaching materials to help us teach residents the field of pediatric anesthesia.

Dr. Laura Siedman, pediatric anesthesiologist

Dr. Siedman came to us several years ago from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she was an attending anesthesiologist. She trained in pediatrics in New York, anesthesia in Pittsburgh and pediatric anesthesia in Pittsburgh. Her memory for patients is amazing as is her clinical skill and knowledge. As all members of the division, she is actively committed to both clinical care and the teaching of pediatric anesthesia.

Dr. Maurice Zwass, associate director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Dr. Zwass wears many hats in the hospital. He is an active member of our division, an attending physician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where he is the associate director, and a member of the Comprehensive Pain Management Team, where he provides full service as well consultation on pediatric pain problems. He was trained in pediatrics in San Diego, anesthesia at UCSF Medical Center and pediatric anesthesia at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.