The effect of low-flow anesthesia on emergence agitation in pediatric patients

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of low-flow sevoflurane anesthesia on emergence and recovery periods in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Design: Single center, prospective, controlled pilot study Setting: Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey Subjects: Sixty children of ASA I-II aged 2-10 years who were scheduled for adenotonsillectomy between February and May in 2016 Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to either low-flow anesthesia or high-flow anesthesia Main outcome measures: Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), endtidal carbon dioxide and bispectral index values (BIS) of the patients were recorded in the operating room. The time of spontaneous ventilation beginning and extubation time were recorded while emergence from anesthesia. HR, MAP, SpO(2), pain and agitation scores were also recorded in the recovery room. Results: Hemodynamic variables at all times, BIS, time of spontaneous ventilation beginning and extubation time were not different between the groups (P>0.05). Pain and agitation scores were lower in low flow group (P<0.05). No side effects were observed in any of the patients in groups. Conclusions: We observed the positive effects of short-term low flow anesthesia in pediatric patients on recovery in the early postoperative period.