Emergence Agitation after Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Burn Injured Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Sevoflurane is a well accepted anesthetic in children but results high incidence of undesirable emergence agitation (EA). We investigated the EA in burn injured children. METHODS: In 219 un-premedicated burn injured children aged 2~8 years, mask induction with sevoflurane was performed. On arriving operating room, modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (m-YPAS) was checked. In the postanesthesia care unit, EA scale was recorded as follows; EA1 (no EA), EA2 (mild EA) and EA3 (marked EA). RESULTS: The incidence of EA was 50.2%. The m-YPAS was significantly higher in EA2 and EA3 compared to EA1 (P<0.001). Burn surface area was significantly wider in EA3 compared to EA1 (P<0.05). In deep second-degree burned children, the incidence of EA1 was greatest, whereas EA3 was the greatest in third-degree burned children. CONCLUSION: The incidence of EA after sevoflurane anesthesia in burn injured children was higher as the burn surface areas was greater. In addition, the symptoms of EA in third-degree burned children were more severe than in second-degree burned children.