[The effect of ketamine on reducing postoperative agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric strabismus surgery].

We investigated the effect of ketamine on reducing postoperative agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in children undergoing elective strabismus surgery. Fifty-five children, 3-9 years of age, were randomly assigned to the following three groups; ketamine (group K, n = 18), pentazocine (group P, n = 19), and flurbiprofen axetil(group F, n = 18). Group K received ketamine 1 mg.kg-1 intravenously, followed by infusion of ketamine 1 mg.kg-1.hr-1 during surgery, group P received pentazocine 0.2 mg.kg-1 intravenously after induction of anesthesia, and Group F received intravenous flurbiprofen axetil, 1 mg.kg-1 5 minutes before the end of surgery. Agitation (evaluated by Aono's four-point scale; AFPS) and awareness (evaluated by Steward score) were assessed just before tracheal extubation(T 1), 5 minutes after tracheal extubation(T 2), arrival at the ward(T 3), and 60 minutes after arrival at the ward(T 4). We considered AFPS > or = 3 patients as "agitated" and APFS < or = 2 patients as "not agitated". At T 1 and T 2, the incidence of agitation(AFPS > or = 3) in group K was less than that of group F and group P. However, in group K, more patients needed oxygen supplement after extubation. We concluded that coadministration of ketamine could be beneficial for reducing postoperative agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric strabismus surgery.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes