ABSTRACT
Introduction Strabismus surgery is a common procedure undertaken in young children often before they start school. It is usually performed outside paediatric centres with the anaesthesia provided by a non-specialist paediatric anaesthetist. The following history illustrates some of the potential pitfalls and difficulties that may occur especially in the hands of the inexperienced or unwary.
Case history A 5-year-old boy was scheduled for strabismus surgery, requiring repositioning of two muscles on the left eye. A second year specialist registrar was rostered to provide anaesthesia without consultant supervision. She had recently obtained her final FRCA diploma and received an aggregate of 3 months’ training in paediatric anaesthesia. She had not worked in an eye theatre since she had been a senior house officer.
