Steal Induction Using A Modified Transparent Hood For Mask-free Induction of Anaesthesia In Uncooperative Paediatric Patients: A Case Report

Background Inhalational induction with volatile agents is widely used in paediatric anaesthesia, however not always tolerated well by children who refuse the mask. Steal induction without requiring placement of a mask might be more acceptable to this patient population. Case presentation: We report the case of a 6-year-old boy with a right hydrocele undergoing an elective right inguinal herniotomy and circumcision with two previous cancellations and known mask refusal. After premedication, the child was brought into the operating room and a make-shift hood using a transparent drape placed over the child’s head and shoulders. A breathing circuit without a mask was introduced below this hood and the child was induced successfully with Sevoflurane, Nitrous oxide and Oxygen. Conclusions Steal induction using a transparent hood can be an alternative method for inducing general anaesthesia in children who refuse conventional inhalational induction techniques.