A survey of current usage of anticholinergic drugs in paediatric anaesthesia in Finland

Background: The aim of this survey was to obtain information about the curr ent use of anticholinergic preanaesthetic medication in children. It was ca rried out as a follow-up study of the previous survey amongst Finnish anaes thesiologists in 1990. Methods: A questionnaire was send to all members of the Finnish Society of Anaesthesiologists. Data from anaesthesiologists taking care of at least th ree paediatric anaesthesias/week (n=183) were analyzed. Results: In 1998 only one-third of the Finnish anaesthesiologists routinely used anticholinergics before paediatric anaesthesia. The main indications for routine anticholinergic premedication were ENT surgery (66%), eye surge ry (71%) and endoscopic procedures (67%). Anticholinergic drugs were admini stered principally via the intravenous route (90%) briefly before induction of anaesthesia, and glycopyrrolate was the most frequently used (66%). Conclusion: During the last eight years in Finland the routine use of antic holinergic premedication has decreased. As in 1990 the anticholinergic prop hylaxis is directed to ENT and eye surgery, endoscopic procedures and to ch ildren younger than 1 year. Use of glycopyrrolate has gained popularity at the expense of atropine and scopolamine.