Background
Sevoflurane-related emergence agitation (EA) is considered a significant problem that interferes with children’s recovery; our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of nebulized lidocaine hydrochloride when given before sevoflurane anesthesia in attenuating EA in children undergoing tonsillectomy.
Materials and methods
A randomized clinical study was conducted on eighty children ASA I and II who underwent tonsillectomy. The children were randomized to one of two groups according to the nebulizer contents. Lidocaine group (group L) received nebulized solution of 4 mg/kg lidocaine hydrochloride and placebo group (group P) received nebulized solution contains 0.9% normal saline.
Results
The number of agitated patients were significantly lowered in the lidocaine group compared to the placebo group; value (0.012).
Conclusion
The use of nebulized lidocaine before sevoflurane anesthesia for pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy attenuated the sevoflurane-related EA with no side effects.