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Sevoflurane versus halothane: effect of oxycodone premedication on emergence behaviour in children
David J Murray1, Jennifer W Cole, Charles D Shrock
1Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University at St Louis Children's Hospital, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Background:
Clinical studies have provided conflicting conclusions about whether the frequency of emergence agitation is increased in children following sevoflurane anaesthesia. The purpose of the study was to determine a frequency and duration of agitation with halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia and whether oxycodone premedication affected the incidence of emergence agitation in children.
Methods:
We measured and compared halothane and sevoflurane recovery in 130 patients using a 5-point scale measuring emergence behaviour every 10 min during the first 60 min of recovery or until discharge.
Results:
We used this 5-point scale to assess the presence or absence of emergence agitation and found a frequency of emergence agitation of more than 40% in children who received halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia.
Conclusions:
Oxycodone reduced the frequency of agitation in children who received halothane, but not in the children who received sevoflurane anaesthesia.