[Recovery characteristics of propofol anesthesia in pediatric outpatients; comparison with sevoflurane anesthesia]

Abstract

We compared recovery characteristics of propofol anesthesia with those of sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric outpatients. One hundred and four children, 3 months to 6 years of age, ASA physical status 1 or 2, were randomly assigned to following four groups; sevoflurane (group S), propofol (group P), sevoflurane with premedication (group MS), or propofol with premedication (group MP). Midazolam 0.5 mg.kg-1 and famotidine 1 mg.kg-1 were administered orally 30 min before the induction in the MS and MP group. Recovery from anesthesia, agitation, and postoperative pain were evaluated. The time intervals from the end of surgery to extubation and to discharge from the hospital were recorded. The incidence of vomiting and use of analgesic drugs were also checked. The emergence from anesthesia was slower with propofol anesthesia than with sevoflurane anesthesia, but the time to discharge from the hospital was not significantly different among the four groups. Incidence of agitation was higher in S group compared with P group, but there were no differences between MS and MP. Postoperative pain was similar among the four groups. There were no differences in the incidence of vomiting. Propofol anesthesia provided slower emergence and less agitation compared with sevoflurane anesthesia.