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Published on: October 16, 2013

Effect of propofol on emergence behavior in children after sevoflurane general anesthesia

Ibrahim Abu-Shahwan1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. iabushahwan@cheo.on.ca

Paediatric Anaesthesia
|December 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Adding propofol at the end of sevoflurane anesthesia significantly reduced emergence agitation (EA) in children undergoing MRI. This intervention offers a promising strategy to improve pediatric postoperative recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Emergence agitation (EA) is a common postoperative behavioral change in children after general anesthesia using inhaled agents.
  • Understanding factors influencing EA is crucial for optimizing pediatric anesthetic care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a single propofol dose on the incidence and severity of EA in pediatric patients undergoing MRI.
  • To assess propofol's efficacy as an adjunct to sevoflurane anesthesia for reducing EA.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 84 children (2-7 years) undergoing MRI.
  • Anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane; one group received propofol (1 mg/kg) and the control group received saline at the end of anesthesia.
  • The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale (PAEDs) assessed EA during the early recovery period.

Main Results:

  • EA occurred in 4.8% of children receiving propofol versus 26.8% in the placebo group (P < 0.05).
  • No significant difference was observed in time to meeting postanesthesia care unit discharge criteria between groups.
  • Propofol administration was well-tolerated with no major adverse events reported.

Conclusions:

  • A low-dose propofol supplement effectively reduces the incidence of emergence agitation following sevoflurane anesthesia in children.
  • This strategy may enhance the recovery experience for pediatric patients undergoing non-painful procedures like MRI.
Abstract

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