Sevoflurane versus halothane: effect of oxycodone premedication on emergence behaviour in children

Background: Clinical studies have provided conflicting conclusions about whether the frequency of emergence agitation is increased in children following sevoflurane anaesthesia. The purpose of the study was to determine a frequency and duration of agitation with halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia and whether oxycodone premedication affected the incidence of emergence agitation in children.

Methods: We measured and compared halothane and sevoflurane recovery in 130 patients using a 5-point scale measuring emergence behaviour every 10 min during the first 60 min of recovery or until discharge.

Results: We used this 5-point scale to assess the presence or absence of emergence agitation and found a frequency of emergence agitation of more than 40% in children who received halothane and sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Conclusions: Oxycodone reduced the frequency of agitation in children who received halothane, but not in the children who received sevoflurane anaesthesia.