Comparison of recovery after intermediate duration of anaesthesia with sevoflurane and isoflurane.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare recovery from anaesthesia after sevoflurane and isoflurane were administered to children for more than 90 min. After parental informed consent and ethical committee approval, children aged between 2 months and 6 years, ASA I or II, were randomly allocated to sevoflurane (n=20) or isoflurane (n=20) groups. Halogenated agents were discontinued following skin closure and patients were ventilated mechanically with 100% oxygen until minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) values awake were obtained (endtidal concentrations 0.6 MAC for sevoflurane and 0.4 MAC for isoflurane). Effective perioperative analgesia was provided by a caudal block. The mean (+/- SD) duration of anaesthesia was 132 +/- 38 min and 139 +/- 49 min for sevoflurane and isoflurane, respectively. Early recovery occurred sooner in the isoflurane group (time to extubation was 16 +/- 7 min and 11 +/- 5 min, P<0.01; Aldrete's score at 0 min was 5.5 +/- 1.5 and 7.4 +/- 1.8, P<0.001, respectively). But the time to be fit for discharge from recovery room was similar at 136 +/- 18 min and 140 +/- 20 min, respectively. After intermediate duration of anaesthesia administered to children for up to 90 min, isoflurane and sevoflurane allow recovery after approximatively the same lapse of time.