Registries in pediatric anesthesiology: A brief history and a new way forward

Clinical registries are multicenter prospective observational datasets that have been used to examine current perioperative practices in pediatric anesthesia. These datasets have proven useful in quantifying the incidence of rare adverse outcomes. Data from registries can highlight associations between severe patient safety events and patient and procedure-related risk factors. Registries are an effective tool to delineate practices and outcomes in niche patient populations. They have been used to quantify uncommon complications of medications and procedures. Registries can be used to generate knowledge and to support quality improvement. Multicenter engagement can promote best clinical practices and foster professional networks. Registries are limited by their observational nature, which entails a lack of randomization as well as selection and treatment bias. The maintenance of registries over time can be challenging due to difficulties in modifying the included variables, collaborator fatigue, and continued outlay of resources to maintain the database and onboard new sites. These latter issues can lead to decreased data quality. In this article, we discuss key insights from several pediatric anesthesia registries and propose a new type of registry that addresses some shortcomings of the current paradigm.