Anesthesia maintenance with 'induction dose only' sevoflurane during pediatric ophthalmic examination: comparison...

Sevoflurane is preferred for pediatric day care procedures. However, financial and environmental costs remain major limitations. Induction dose of sevoflurane could itself be sufficient for maintaining anesthesia with low fresh gas flow during short noninvasive procedures.

Fifty children, aged 1-5 years, scheduled for ophthalmic examination under anesthesia, were randomized into two groups. All children were induced with 8% sevoflurane in O₂ : N₂ O (40 : 60). In the Group S, anesthesia was maintained with 2% sevoflurane at 1 l·min^-1 fresh gas flow [O₂ : N₂ O = 50 : 50]. In Group L, the sevoflurane vaporizer was turned off and fresh gas flow was reduced to 0.5 l·min^-1 [O₂ : N₂ O = 50 : 50]. HR, BP, MAC, BIS, total sevoflurane consumption, ocular deviation, body movement, time to laryngeal mask airway removal (T_WO ), and airway complications were compared between the groups. Rescue propofol bolus was used, if needed.

Median duration of examination was 14 min (IQR = 9-17) in Group S and 15 min (IQR = 10-17) in Group L. Sevoflurane consumption was lower in the Group L (7 ml) compared to Group S (9 ml) [median difference = 2 ml, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.96-3.04]. T_WO was lower in Group L (86 s) compared to Group S (131 s) [median difference = 45 s, P = 0.002, 95% CI = 19.85-70.15]. There was no difference in hemodynamic parameters, incidence of ocular deviation, movement or airway complications, and need for rescue propofol.

Induction dose of sevoflurane is, in itself, adequate for maintaining anesthesia for short noninvasive ophthalmic examinations lasting approximately 15 min. This method significantly reduces sevoflurane consumption and cost.