THE INCIDENCE OF MINOR SEQUELAE FOLLOWING ANESTHESIA IN CHILDREN

A survey was performed to estimate the incidence of the minor sequelae of anaesthesia in children. During an eight-month period 266 children , aged five years and over, were personally interviewed by an anaesthe tist following recovery from anaesthesia. At interview the child was q uestioned to ascertain any morbidity suffered and record was made of t he operation performed and the anaesthetic administered. Data were the n evaluated, using multivariate analysis, to identify risk factors for the more common sequelae. This study revealed a higher incidence of t he minor sequelae of anaesthesia in children than had previously been reported. The three most common sequelae recorded were nausea (48.1%), vomiting (35.0%), and sore throat (31.4%).