RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PAEDIATRIC ANAESTHESIA SERVICES IN EUROPE 1. Introduction The perioperative care of infants and children demands special facilities and presents a challenge for anaesthesiologists. The outcome of surgery and anaesthesia in children is closely related to the experience of the clinical team involved and it is recognised that surgeons and anaesthesiologists should not undertake "occasional" paediatric practice [1]. Furthermore, it has been shown that an experienced surgical and anaesthesia team considerably decreases morbidity and mortality in young children. There are existing guidelines in the United Kingdom [2], France, Switzerland Germany and The Netherlands [3], but there are currently no agreed standards for the European Community as a whole. Accordingly, in this document the Federation of Associations of Paediatric Anaesthesia [FEAPA) put foreword practicable recommendations. The aim of these recommendations is to set down desirable standards for paediatric anaesthetic services throughout Europe.
