Pediatric Anesthesia Practice and Training in Ibero‐America: A Web‐Based Cross‐Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND: Pediatric anesthesia training varies widely across Ibero-America, and many anesthesiologists care for children without formal specialized preparation. AIMS: To describe training patterns, clinical exposure, and practice characteristics in pediatric anesthesia across the region. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to anesthesiologists in 21 Ibero-American countries. Data on training, clinical experience, case volume, and use of pediatric anesthesia techniques were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1416 respondents, only 27.8% reported formal fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia, while 72.2% developed pediatric skills through routine practice. Most (56.6%) had < 10 years of pediatric anesthesia experience, and 41% dedicated ≤ 20% of clinical time to pediatric cases. Fellowship-trained anesthesiologists performed higher pediatric case volumes and used more advanced techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric anesthesia practice in Ibero-America shows marked heterogeneity and limited structured training. Expanding fellowship programs and increasing opportunities for sustained pediatric clinical exposure are needed to support safe anesthesia care for children.