Emergence agitation in paediatric patients after sevoflurane anaesthesia and no surgery: a comparison with halothane

This study was designed to compare the emergence characteristics of sevoflu rane with halothane anaesthesia in paediatric patients having no surgical i ntervention. We randomized 32 ASA I or II paediatric outpatients scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging scans to receive either halothane or sevoflu rane anaesthesia. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patient s with emergence agitation, as defined by two different criteria. Time to d ischarge from the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) and the secondary recove ry unit (SRU) were compared. Sevoflurane patients had a greater incidence o f emergence delirium when a high threshold for agitation was defined (33% v s. 0%, P = 0.010) and a lower threshold for agitation was applied (80% vs. 12%, P < 0.0001). Discharge times from the PACU and the SRU were not differ ent. We conclude that there is an increased incidence of emergence agitatio n with sevoflurane anaesthesia compared to halothane independent of any pai nful stimulus.