Abstract: The effects of brief sevoflurane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia upon children's postoperative cognition and behaviour.

Authors:

Millar K, Asbury AJ, Bowman AW, Hosey MT, Musiello T, Welbury RR.

Institution:

University Section of Psychological Medicine, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Source:

Anaesthesia. 2006 Jun;61(6):541-7.

Abstract:

This study assessed the effects of brief sevoflurane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia on children's postoperative cognition, behaviour and physical morbidity. Forty-eight children aged 5-10 years undergoing anaesthesia without premedication for multiple dental extractions, and 48 control children, performed tests of choice reaction time, attention, psychomotor co-ordination and memory pre-operatively (baseline), prior to discharge and at 48 h (anaesthesia group only). Physical and psychological morbidity were recorded at 1 week. Mean choice reaction time and psychomotor co-ordination were significantly impaired postoperatively but had recovered at 48 h. However, measures of performance variability suggested the presence of residual impairment. Profound retrograde amnesia affected postoperative and 48-h recall of pictorial stimuli presented prior to anaesthesia, but recognition memory was unimpaired. Attention-seeking, tantrums, crying and nightmares were occurring more frequently in some 8-20% of children 1 week after the procedure.

Keywords:

Surgery Oral Dental Morbidity Paediatric Exodontia Complications