Prophylactic use of midazolam or propofol at the end of surgery may reduce the incidence of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia

Y. H. Kim, S. Z. Yoon, H. J. Lim, S. M. Yoon

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    44 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Sevoflurane is associated with a high incidence of emergence agitation in children. Midazolam and propofol have been examined with the aim of reducing emergence agitation after sevoflurane anaesthesia. However, the effect ofboth drugs on emergence agitation is still controversial. Therefore we designed this study to measure the effect of midazolam or propofol at the end of surgery on emergence agitation during the recovery period. One hundred and one children, aged one to 13 years, undergoing strabismus surgery were enrolled in this randomised double-blind study. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane in N2O/O2. Children were randomly assigned to receive midazolam 0.05 mg/kg (group M, n=35), propofol 1 mg/kg (group P, n=31) or saline (group S, n=35). A four-point scale was used to evaluate recovery characteristics upon awakening and during the first hour after emergence from anaesthesia. The incidence of emergence agitation in group M was 42.9% (15/35), in group P 48.4% (15/31) and in group S 74.3% (26/35). The incidence of emergence agitation in groups M and P was significantly less than in group S. The emergence time was prolonged for patients in groups M and P compared to group S. There was no significant difference in the incidence of emergence agitation or in emergence times between the groups P and M. We conclude that propofol or midazolam administration before the end of surgery may be effective in reducing the incidence of emergence agitation in children undergoing strabismus surgery under sevoflurane anaesthesia.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)904-908
    Number of pages5
    JournalAnaesthesia and Intensive Care
    Volume39
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011 Sept

    Keywords

    • Emergence agitation
    • Midazolam
    • Propofol
    • Sevoflurane
    • Strabismus

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
    • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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