Prevention Of Emergence Agitation Research Articles

Melatonin or its analogs as premedication to prevent emergence agitation in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEmergence agitation (EA) is a prevalent complication in children following general anesthesia. Several studies have assessed the relationship between melatonin or its analogs and the incidence of pediatric EA, yielding conflicting results. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of premedication with melatonin or its analogs on preventing EA in children after general anesthesia.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched until 25 November 2022. We included randomized controlled trials that assessed EA in patients less than 18 years old who underwent general anesthesia. We excluded studies that did not use a specific evaluation to assess EA.ResultsNine studies (951 participants) were included in this systematic review. Melatonin significantly reduced the incidence of EA compared with placebos (risk ratio 0.40, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.61, P < 0.01) and midazolam (risk ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.73, P < 0.01). Dexmedetomidine remarkably decreased the incidence of EA compared with melatonin (risk ratio 2.04, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.73, P = 0.02).ConclusionsMelatonin premedication significantly decreases the incidence of EA compared with placebos and midazolam. Dexmedetomidine premedication has a stronger effect than melatonin in preventing EA. Nevertheless, further studies are warranted to reinforce and validate the conclusion on the efficacy of melatonin premedication in mitigating EA in pediatric patients.

The effect of low dose nalbuphine or ketamine in the prevention of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in children undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy

ABSTRACT Background Children’s agitation increases following sevoflurane anaesthesia. With indefinite results, nalbuphine and midazolam have been used as preventative treatments. Patients and Methods This study involved 90 children with American Society of Anesthesiologists score I-II and aged 4–10 who had sevoflurane-based adenotonsillectomy. Each child was randomly assigned to one of three groups; group N, group K, and group S. Nalbuphine was given to Group N at 0.1 mg/kg, ketamine was given to Group K at 0.25 mg/kg, and saline was given to Group S at equivalent volume. Sevoflurane was discontinued after the procedure, and the study drugs were given. The emergence agitation (EA) scale was used in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to measure agitation upon admission (T0), after 5 min (T5), 10 min (T10), 15 min (T15), 20 min (T20), 25 min (T25), and 30 min (T30). Clinical trials. gov ID: NCT05176119. Results In the PACU, the incidence of EA was significantly lowered in N (6.6%) and K Group (16.6%) compared to S group (33%) with (p = 0.044), the duration in PACU was significantly prolonged in S in comparison to K and N groups (p-value = 0.011), more patients experienced postoperative pain in S group compared to N group and K group (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion Children who had sevoflurane-induced adenotonsillectomy can avoid emergence agitation with ketamine 0.25 mg/kg or nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg.

The Effect of Low Dose Nalbuphine or Ketamine in the Prevention of Emergence Agitation after Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy with or without Adenoidectomy

Abstract Background Emergence agitation (EA) in children is increased after sevoflurane anesthesia. Nalbuphine and midazolam have been used for prophylactic treatment with controversial results. Patients and Methods Totally, 90 children between 4 and 10 years of age and of American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II undergoing adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane-based anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Children were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: group N received nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg, group K received ketamine 0.25 mg /kg and group S received the equivalent volume saline. The study medications will be given after discontinuation of sevoflurane by the end of surgery. In the post anesthesia care unit EA was assessed with emergence agitation scale upon admission (T0), after 5 min (T5), 10 min (T10), 15 min (T15), 20 min (T20), 25 min (T25) and 30 min (T30). Results In the PACU, the incidence of EA (emergence agitation scale) were significantly lower in the N Group (6.6%) and K Group (16.6%) compared to S group (33%) with (p = 0.044), the duration in PACU was significantly prolonged in S group compared to K group and N group (p- value 0.011), more patients experienced postoperative pain (mCHEOPS) in S group compared to N group and K group ( p-value 0.001). Conclusion Nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg or ketamine 0.25 mg/kg are effective in preventing emergence agitation following sevoflurane-anesthetized adenotonsillectomy paediatric patients.

Determination of the ED90 of Dexmedetomidine Infusion to Prevent Emergence Agitation in Children Undergoing Dental Rehabilitation With Sevoflurane Anesthesia: A Biased-Coin Up-and-Down Sequential Allocation Trial.

Emergence agitation (EA) is an adverse complication during early recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia. Continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine (DEX) is commonly used for EA prevention. However, a wide dose range is used for preventing EA, and the optimal dose remains unknown. This study was aimed at determining the optimal dose (the 90% effective dose [ED90]) of DEX for continuous intraoperative infusion for EA prevention in children. We enrolled children aged 3 to 7 years who underwent dental treatment under sevoflurane anesthesia. DEX was continuously infused from the time of the establishment of the intravenous access until 5 minutes before the end of surgery. The initial DEX dose was 0.5 µg/kg/h, and subsequent dose adjustments were determined based on the response of the previous patient by using an up-down sequential allocation with a biased-coin design. The primary outcome was the ED90 for continuous DEX infusion based on the success or failure of the EA-preventing dose. Forty-five patients were enrolled in the study. The DEX dose ranged from 0.50 to 0.90 µg/kg/h. The estimated ED90 (95% confidence interval [CI]) for preventing EA was 0.74 µg/kg/h (0.67-1.05 µg/kg/h). The duration of surgery (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) was 113 ± 30 minutes. The times (mean ± SD) for extubation, time to emergence, and recovery time were 5 ± 2 minutes, 27 ± 9 minutes, and 39 ± 7 minutes, respectively. The ED90 for continuous intraoperative DEX infusion for EA prevention in pediatric patients receiving dental treatment under sevoflurane anesthesia was 0.74 µg/kg/h (95% CI, 0.67-1.05 µg/kg/h).

Effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for the prevention of emergence agitation in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation (EA) in children. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted across multiple locations according to the articles searched. Seven databases, including trial registration sites, were searched. A total of six trials were included involving 489 patients; of them, 244 received acupuncture therapy. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the incidence of EA compared with placebo/sham or standard care in children were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of EA, as evaluated using a specific assessment tool. Data about the incidence rate of EA, heterogeneity, quality of trials and evidence, and adverse events were collected. Additionally, data about patient demographic characteristics, type of anesthesia, duration and onset of acupuncture therapy, EA and pain score, time taken for extubation, and post-anesthesia care unit length of stay were collected. The results indicated that the overall incidence of EA in the acupuncture therapy group and the control group was 23.4% and 39.5%, respectively, with no significant difference (risk ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.48; I2 = 63%). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in the overall incidence of EA in the acupuncture therapy and control groups according to surgery type (high-risk vs. low-risk surgery), suggesting that acupuncture therapy may be effective in reducing EA for patients undergoing high-risk surgery. The quality of evidence was downgraded to "very low" due to the study designs, inconsistency, and possible publication bias. In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that the currently available RCTs are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in preventing EA in children undergoing general anesthesia.

Subanesthetic-dose propofol infusion for preventing emergence agitation in children: a retrospective observational study.

Anesthesia maintenance using propofol and a propofol bolus dose at the end of surgery have been shown to prevent emergence agitation (EA).However, the preventive effect of subanesthetic propofol infusion during sevoflurane anesthesia on EA remains unknown. We aimed toevaluate the effect of subanesthetic propofol infusion on EA in children. We retrospectively compared the incidences of severe EA requiring pharmacological intervention in children who underwent adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, or strabismus surgery between maintenance with sevoflurane alone (sevoflurane group) and maintenance with subanesthetic propofol with sevoflurane (combination group). A multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for confounders was used to assess the association between anesthesia methods and the occurrence of EA. Additionally, we estimated the direct effect of anesthesia methods by a mediation analysis, excluding the indirect effects of intraoperative fentanyl and droperidol administration. Among 244 eligible patients, 132 and 112 were in the sevoflurane and combination groups, respectively. The crude incidence of EA was significantly lower in the combination group (17.0% [n = 19]) than in the sevoflurane group (33.3% [n = 44]) (P = 0.005).After adjusting for confounders, the incidence of EA was still significantly lower in the combination group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-0.91). The mediation analysis revealed a direct association of anesthesia methods with a lower EA incidence in the combination group (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.93) than in the sevoflurane group. Subanesthetic propofol infusion may effectively prevent severe EA requiring the administration of opioids or sedatives.

Effect of ice popsicle treatment on emergence agitation in children undergoing oral surgery with sevoflurane anaesthesia: A prospective randomized controlled study

Emergence agitation is a common postoperative complication during recovery in children. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the use of ice popsicle could prevent emergence agitation in children undergoing oral surgery with sevoflurane anaesthesia. In this prospective randomized controlled study, 100 children undergoing oral surgery were randomly assigned to Group 1 which received ice popsicle after emergence (intervention, n=50) or Group 2 which received verbal encouragement from their parents (control, n=50). The primary outcome was the 2-hour postoperative incidence of EA. Group 1 had a significant lower incidence of emergence agitation (22% vs 58%, P<0.001) compared with Group 2. The mean agitation score was significantly lower in Group 1 vs Group 2 at 10 minutes (1.64 vs 2.12, P=0.024) and 20min (1.60 vs 2.14, P=0.004) after emergence. The peak agitation and pain scores were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P<0.001). Findings from this study suggest that ice popsicle is an effective, cheap, pleasurable, and easily administered method for alleviating emergence agitation in paediatric patients after oral surgery under general anaesthesia. These results are worthy of confirmation in other surgeries. This approach is highly accepted by both children and their parents, and our findings support the effectiveness of ice popsicle in relieving emergence agitation and pain after oral surgery in children. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1800015634.

Low Dose Propofol at the End of Sevoflurane Anesthesia Reduces Emergence Agitation in Children: A Prospective Observational Study

Introduction: EA is characterized by agitation, inconsolable sobbing, disorientation, delusions, and hallucinations, decreased cognition and memory. Sevoflurane is widely used as an anesthetic agent for children because of its less pungent nature, lower solubility but it has a greater incidence of EA in preschool aged children. Propofol is a hypnotic amnestic agent with a short duration of action, commonly used for sedation, induction, and maintaining anesthesia and it has been used to prevent Emergence agitation. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of low dose propofol in reducing the incidence of EA at the end of face-mask sedation with sevoflurane. Methods: This was a prospective observational study and was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Anesthesia of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from July, 2021 to December, 2021.In our study we took 220 children operated for hernia were randomized into two groups – Group A (Control group, n=110) and Group B (Propofol group, n= 110). Result: In total 220 patients from both the groups completed the study. In our study we found the mean age in group A &amp; B was 6.3 ± 1.6 &amp; 6.1 ± 1.9 years respectively. The mean PAED score was 14.41 ± 2.59 &amp; 9.83 ± 3.51, the mean emergence time was 7.1 ± 2.0 &amp; 13.4 ± 2.5, time in PACU was 44.5 ± 5.9 &amp; 46.6 ± 7.6 mins in control &amp; propofol group respectively. In contrast to the control group, no patient in the propofol group experienced EA beyond 15 or 20 minutes of emergence. Conclusion: In our study, we found that 0.5mg,/kg propofol was effective in preventing Emergence Agitation in children underwent herniotomy with caudal block and who’s sedation were maintained with sevoflurane.

Comparative Study of the Effect of Two Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine to Prevent Emergence Agitation in Tonsillectomy in Children Aged 2 to 12 Years Old.

Emergence agitation (EA) is one of the complications following anesthesia in pediatric surgery. Various drugs are used to prevent this complication, and one of them is dexmedetomidine. Choosing the right dose of this drug for the best efficiency is an important issue due to this complication.The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the prophylactic effect of intravenous dexmedetomidine in different doses in preventing EA after tonsillectomy in children. Our study was a double-blind clinical trial performed on 75 children ASAI, II candidates for tonsillectomy. Patients were divided into three groups. The group 1 received a dose of 0.6 μg/kg per hour and group 2 received a dose of 0.3 μg/kg per hour and group 3 was the control group. Then vital signs and observational pain score (OPS) and pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAEDS) criteria were measured in patients. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 23 and non-parametric tests such as Friedman, Mann-Whitney. According to the data analysis, mean blood pressure, mean heart rate, OPS and PAEDS score in group 1 were lower than other groups. Also, the average time of staying in recovery and extubation in group 1 was less than other groups. A dose of 0.6 μg/kg dexmedetomidine has a better effect on reducing EA (emergence agitation) after pediatric tonsillectomy.

Comparison of pre-extubation propofol and midazolam to prevent emergence agitation in children—a prospective randomized study

BackgroundEmergence delirium is one of the most common and troublesome complications seen after inhalational anesthesia, with an estimated 20–80% incidence rate. It can lead to an increase in mortality, morbidity, and hospital stay, which indirectly reflects a major economic burden. The aim of our study is to compare the effect of propofol and two different doses of midazolam to prevent emergence agitation in children given 5 min before extubation. Seventy-five ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Physical Status I–II patients aged 2–14 years who were scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia were included in the study. Patients in the study groups were randomized into three groups 25 in each group; group P (propofol of 0.5 mg/kg iv), group ML (midazolam low dose of 0.03 mg/kg iv), and group M (midazolam of 0.05 mg/kg iv) given 5 min before extubation. The primary objective was to study the effect of propofol and two different doses of midazolam for the prevention of emergence agitation in children. The secondary objective was to observe the complications like bronchospasm, laryngospasm, persistent cough, and desaturation in pediatric patients.ResultsThe time taken for emergence from anesthesia after surgery in the propofol group was 5.11 ± 1.223 min and in the group midazolam low dose and midazolam time taken was 8.53 ± 2.326 min and 12.45 ± 2.145 min, respectively, and was found to be statistically significant. The incidence of delirium observed with a Cole score of >3 was seen in 14 (56%) patients in group P, 7 (28%), and 6 (24%) patients of groups ML and M, respectively.ConclusionsMidazolam in low doses given before extubation is effective in preventing the emergence delirium during the postoperative period in pediatric patients without delay in recovery during general anesthesia.

Efficacy of different doses of intranasal dexmedetomidine in preventing emergence agitation in children with inhalational anaesthesia: A prospective randomised trial.

Emergence agitation is a common paediatric complication after inhalational anaesthesia. Intranasal dexmedetomidine can prevent emergence agitation effectively, but the optimal dose is uncertain. The aim of our study was to investigate the 95% effective dose (ED 95 ) of intranasal dexmedetomidine for the prevention of emergence agitation after inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric ambulatory surgery. A prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. The study was conducted in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center in China from August 2017 to December 2018. Three hundred and eighteen children scheduled for ambulatory surgery were enrolled into two age groups of less than 3 years and at least 3 years. The children in each age group were randomised into five equal subgroups to receive either intranasal dexmedetomidine 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 μg kg -1 (Groups D 0.5 , D 1.0 , D 1.5 and D 2.0 ), or intranasal isotonic saline (group C) after induction. The primary outcome was the ED 95 dose of intranasal dexmedetomidine for preventing emergence agitation after inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric ambulatory surgery. The incidences of emergence agitation for Groups C, D 0.5 , D 1.0 , D 1.5 and D 2.0 were 63, 40, 23, 13 and 3% in children less than 3 years, and 43, 27, 17, 7 and 3% in children at least 3 years. The ED 95 of intranasal dexmedetomidine for preventing emergence agitation was 1.99 μg kg -1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.83 to 3.80 μg kg -1 ] in children less than 3 years, and 1.78 μg kg -1 (95% CI, 0.93 to 4.29 μg kg -1 ) in children at least 3 years. LMA removal time for groups D 1.5 and D 2.0 was 9.6 ± 2.2 and 9.7 ± 2.5 min, respectively, for children less than 3 years, and 9.4 ± 2.0 and 9.9 ± 2.7 min in children at least 3 years, respectively. Length of stay in the postanaesthesia care unit for Groups D 1.5 and D 2.0 was 34.3 ± 9.6 and 37.1 ± 11.2 min, respectively, in children less than 3 years, and 34.7 ± 10.2 and 37.3 ± 8.3 min in children at least 3 years, respectively. These times were longer in the D 1.5 and D 2.0 subgroups than in the control subgroup in the two age groups of less than 3 years and at least 3 years, respectively: 7.2 ± 1.9 min in children less than 3 years and 7.3 ± 2.5 min in children at least 3 years for LMA removal time, 22.2 ± 7.9 min in children less than 3 years and 22.0 ± 7.7 min in children at least 3 years for PACU stay time in control subgroup, respectively ( P < 0.05). Intranasal dexmedetomidine prevented emergence agitation after paediatric surgery in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal dose of intranasal dexmedetomidine for preventing emergence agitation was higher in younger children. chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR-IOR-17012415.

Fentanyl Versus Dexmedetomidine for the Prevention of Emergence Agitation in Children After Sevoflurane Anaesthesia: A Comparative Clinical Study.

IntroductionSevoflurane is widely used in pediatric anesthesia due to its rapid onset and offset of action, smooth induction, and less hepatotoxicity. However, it is associated with emergence agitation, which can be frightening and harm the patient or the caregiver. While a definite preventive measure of emergence agitation is in search, the use of some drugs is associated with a lesser incidence of emergence related to sevoflurane. Aims and objectiveThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of fentanyl with dexmedetomidine in preventing emergence agitation in children undergoing surgery with sevoflurane anesthesia. Also, we assessed the perioperative hemodynamic and postoperative recovery characteristics and side effects, if any, between children receiving the two groups of drugs.Material and methodWe conducted a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial after getting approval from the institutional ethical committee. A total of 120 patients were recruited into the study and divided into two groups, F and D, of 60 patients each. Patients in group F received an infusion of injection fentanyl at 1 mcg/kg and patients in group D received infusions of injection dexmedetomidine at 0.15 mcg/kg, respectively, after induction of general anaesthesia. Additionally, all patients received a caudal epidural block with 0.125% isobaric levobupivacaine. After the conclusion of surgery, we transferred the patients to the post-anaesthesia care unit for further observation and assessment.ResultThe Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score for emergence agitation was significantly greater in the fentanyl group compared to the dexmedetomidine group at 0 minutes (7.08 ± 1.03 vs. 6.43 ± 1.33, p = 0.003) and 15 minutes (5.51 ± 1.7 vs. 4.01 ± 1.08, p = 0.0001) postoperative period. The mean time to eye-opening was significantly earlier amongst children receiving fentanyl than those receiving dexmedetomidine (9.3 ± 1.1 min vs. 10.12 ±1.05 min, p = 0.0001). The modified Aldrete Score for adequacy of recovery was statistically insignificant initially, but as the duration progressed to 15 minutes, the children in the fentanyl group had significantly higher scores than those in the dexmedetomidine group (8.05 ± 0.67 vs. 7.76 ± 0.62, p = 0.01).ConclusionProphylactic administration of dexmedetomidine (0.15 mcg/kg) or fentanyl (1 mcg/kg) administered is effective in preventing emergence agitation. Although we found emergence agitation was higher amongst children receiving fentanyl than those receiving dexmedetomidine during the early recovery period, this difference became insignificant as the postoperative period increased to 30 minutes.

Clinical Application of Esketamine Hydrochloride in Children with Emergence Agitation under Sevoflurane Anesthesia

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of different doses of esketamine in preventing emergence agitation (EA) in children under sevoflurane general anesthesia.&#x0D; Methods: 80 children who underwent elective tonsillectomy or (and) adenoidectomy in our hospital were selected. The children were allocated randomly to one of four groups receiving saline(group C), esketamine hydrochloride 0.25 mg/kg (group K0.25), esketamine hydrochloride 0.5 mg/kg (group K0.5)or esketamine hydrochloride 0.75 mg/kg (group K0.75) . The children in each group were administered the study drugs 10 minutes before the end of surgery.All children were maintained anesthesia with sevoflurane. The recovery characteristics, including the time to extubation, delivery time from the PACU, postoperative nausea and vomiting, agitation and modified CHEOPS score were recorded and analyzed.&#x0D; Results: Immediately after extubation, the modified CHEOPS score and postoperative recovery agitation score of the three groups of children receiving intravenous esketamine were lower than those of group C (P&lt;0.05), but there was no statistical difference between the three groups significance (P&gt;0.05). When leaving the PACU, the postoperative awakening agitation scores of the children in the K0.25 and K0.5 groups were lower than those in the C group (P&lt;0.05), but there was no significant difference between the K0.75 and C groups (P&gt; 0.05). Compared with group C, postoperative extubation time and PACU stay time were significantly prolonged in K0.75 and K0.5 groups (P&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusions: Low-dose (0.25 mg/kg) of esketamine hydrochloride can reduce the incidence of emergent agitation and postoperative pain,and has little effect on anesthesia recovery.

Effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for preventing emergence agitation in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Pain, autonomic distress, and emergence agitation occur commonly in children undergoing general anesthesia. While acupuncture therapy has been reported to effectively reduce such pain and autonomic distress in children, its effect in preventing emergence agitation remains unclear. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation in children undergoing general anesthesia. Methods and analysis This protocol was prepared according to the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for Protocols guidelines. We will conduct a search for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation. The following databases will be searched for relevant articles: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science; four pre-registration sites will be accessed from inception to April 1, 2021. No language restrictions will be applied. Two authors will independently scan and select eligible studies, extract the data, and assess the risk of bias. The incidence of emergence agitation will be combined as a risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval using a random-effect model. The I2 statistics will be used to assess heterogeneity. We will evaluate the quality of the clinical trials using the Cochrane methodology and assess the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. If appropriate, a trial sequential analysis will be performed. Expected outcomes This meta-analysis will be the first to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation in children. The findings from this meta-analysis have the potential to reveal pivotal factors that affect the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy, thereby supporting the optimization of acupuncture therapy for emergence agitation.Protocol registration University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000040775).

The Effects of Different Doses of Alfentanil and Dexmedetomidine on Prevention of Emergence Agitation in Pediatric Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy Surgery.

Background: Emergence agitation (EA) is a common problem often observed in children after sevoflurane anesthesia, which can be prevented by dexmedetomidine and alfentanil. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine alone and with different doses of alfentanil in preventing EA in children under sevoflurane anesthesia. Materials and Methods: In a double-blind trial, 80 children (ASA I or II, 3–7 years old) undergoing tonsillectomy alone and adenotonsillectomy with sevoflurane anesthesia were randomly assigned into four groups: the control group, dexmedetomidine (DEX) group, dexmedetomidine plus 10 μg/kg alfentanil group (DEX + Alf1), and dexmedetomidine plus 20 μg/kg alfentanil group (DEX + ALf2). The incidence of EA was assessed with the Aono’s scale, and the severity of EA was evaluated with the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The time of tracheal extubation and time of wake were recorded. Postoperative pain and complications such as nausea and vomiting, cough, laryngospasm, and bradycardia were recorded. Results: The incidence of EA was 50% in the control group, 25% in the DEX group, and 5% in the DEX + Alf1 group, and it never happened in the DEX + Alf2 group. The Aono’s scale, the PAED scale, and the FLACC scale in the control group and the DEX group were significantly more than those in the DEX + Alf1 group and the DEX + Alf2 group after the tracheal extubation (p < 0.05). The time of tracheal extubation of the control group and the DEX group were significantly shorter than those in the DEX + Alf1 group and the DEX + Alf2 group (p < 0.05). The awakening time of the DEX + Alf2 group is significantly longer than those in other groups (p < 0.05). The case of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the DEX + Alf1 group was fewer than those in the other groups (p < 0.05). And, the cases of cough and laryngospasm and bronchospasm in the DEX + Alf1 group and the DEX + Alf2 group were significantly less than those in the control group and the DEX group after the tracheal extubation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The combined administration of alfentanil and dexmedetomidine can reduce EA in children undergoing tonsillectomy alone and adenotonsillectomy with sevoflurane anesthesia. Dexmedetomidine plus 10 μg/kg alfentanil seems to be more appropriate than other dose combinations as it reduced EA and postoperative nausea and vomiting but did not prolong the time to awake.

The effect of two different doses of dexmedetomidine to prevent emergence agitation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate different doses of dexmedetomidine for the prevention of emergence agitation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. MethodOne hundred and thirty children aged 3–10 years scheduled for adenotonsillectomy were randomly assigned to two groups. Anesthesia was induced with 0.5 μg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine (DEX 0.5 group) or 1 μg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine (DEX 1 group) at the beginning of surgery. Observers who recorded the data in the postanesthesia care unit were blinded to the allocation. The primary outcome was the percentage of emergence agitation. The times to spontaneous breath, awake, extubate, and postanesthesia care unit stay were also recorded. ResultsOne hundred twenty four children were randomized into two groups. Five children were excluded because of adverse events and dropout (DEX 0.5 group, n = 58; DEX 1 group, n = 62). No significant differences were noted in the percentage of emergence agitation between the two groups. The times to extubation (p = 0.003), awake, and postanesthesia care unit stay in DEX 0.5 group were shorter than those in DEX 1 group (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the time to spontaneous breath. Approximately 8% of patients in DEX 0.5 group and 18% patients in DEX 1 group presented low SpO2, showing a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.043). ConclusionsA dose of 0.5 μg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine was equally effective as 1 μg.kg-1 dexmedetomidine in preventing emergence agitation. Trial registration: The trial is currently completed recruitment, registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID:NCT03760809). Inclusion began on 4 January, 2019.

Perioperative dexmedetomidine reduces emergence agitation without increasing the oculocardiac reflex in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Intravenous dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been used to prevent emergence agitation (EA) in children. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether DEX decreases EA incidence without augmenting oculocardiac reflex (OCR) in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery.Methods:We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, and the Cochrane Library to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of intraoperative DEX in children undergoing strabismus surgery from inception to October 2019. Postoperative Pediatric Agitation and Emergence Delirium (PAED) score, postoperative EA, extubation or laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal time, postanesthetic care unit (PACU) stay time, OCR, and postoperative vomiting (POV) were evaluated.Results:11 RCTs including 801 patients were included in this study. Compared with control group, intravenous DEX significantly reduced postoperative PAED score (WMD, 3.05; 95% CI: -3.82 to -2.27, P = .017) and incidences of postoperative EA 69% (RR, 0.31; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.55, P < .00) and POV (RR, 0.28; 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.61, P = .001). Furthermore, the use of DEX significantly delayed extubation or LMA removal time (WMD, 2.11; 95% CI: 0.25 to 3.97, P < .001). No significant difference was found in the incidence of ORC and PACU stay time.Conclusion:Intravenous DEX reduced the incidences of EA without increasing OCR in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Meanwhile, DEX infusion decreased the incidence of POV in children.

Efficacy of dexmedetomidine on postoperative analgesia &amp;amp; sedation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy

Background: Adenotonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure in pediatric population, but post-operative pain management is a challenging concern for anaesthetist. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy of dexmedetomidine on post-operative sedation and analgesia in paediatric cases undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Materials and methods: A total 80 pediatric cases undergoing adenotonsillectomy between age group 4-9 years belong to ASA grade I and II were recruited. Study consists of two groups i.e. group 1 with 1mcg/kg Dexmeditomidine and group 2 with 2 mcg/kg fentanyl. Parameters like heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), requirement of post-operative analgesia and sedation assessed by Ramsay sedation score & CHEOPS score and emergence agitation were assessed. Results: The mean heart rate was significant between two study groups at the beginning, 5 min, 15 min, 20 min and at 25 min (p<0.005). The mean SBP in group 1 was high at the beginning, later the values were decreased when compared group 2. However, the mean DBP in group 1 was low when compared to the group 2 at all-time intervals. The mean Ramsay sedation score difference was statistically significant among two study groups at the beginning, 5 min, 10 min, 15 min and 45 min (p<0.005). The requirement of additional rescue doses were noticed more in group 2. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine was effective in maintaining intraoperative heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Dexmedetomidine is an effective and safe analgesic substitute to fentanyl intra-operatively and reduces the requirement of postoperative rescue opioid. Dexmedetomidine was more effective in preventing emergence agitation, avoiding severe pain and reducing incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Effective Intravenous Administration of Dexmedetomidine to Prevent Emergence Agitation after General Anesthesia in a Pediatric Patient with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Effective Intravenous Administration of Dexmedetomidine to Prevent Emergence Agitation after General Anesthesia in a Pediatric Patient with Osteogenesis Imperfecta

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