Emergence agitation (EA) in children is increased after sevoflurane anaesthesia. The efficacy of prophylactic treatment is controversial. The aim of this study was to provide a meta-analysis of the studies of the pharmacological prevention of EA in children. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify clinical trials that focused on the prevention of EA in children anaesthetized with sevoflurane, desflurane, or both. The data from each trial were combined using the Mantel-Haenszel model to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. I(2) statistics were used to assess statistics heterogeneity and the funnel plot and the Begg-Mazumdar test to assess bias. Thirty-seven articles were found which included a total of 1695 patients in the intervention groups and 1477 in the control ones. Midazolam and 5HT(3) inhibitors were not found to have a protective effect against EA [OR=0.88 (0.44, 1.76); OR=0.39 (0.12, 1.31), respectively], whereas propofol [OR=0.21 (0.16, 0.28)], ketamine [OR=0.28 (0.13, 0.60)], alpha(2)-adrenoceptors [OR=0.23 (0.17, 0.33)], fentanyl [OR=0.31 (0.18, 0.56)], and peroperative analgesia [OR=0.15 (0.07, 0.34)] were all found to have a preventive effect. Subgroup analysis according to the peroperative analgesia given does not affect the results. This meta-analysis found that propofol, ketamine, fentanyl, and preoperative analgesia had a prophylactic effect in preventing EA. The analgesic properties of these drugs do not seem to have a role in this effect.

Emergence delirium in children is still considered as a mysterious complication occurring after pediatric anesthesia. Although the pharmacology of fast-acting volatile agent is highly suspected in the genesis of this complication, no strong evidence has been published to support this hypothesis. This review summarizes the recent findings concerning this complication. Emergence delirium occurs typically in preschool children, with a high intensity of anxiety, after sevoflurane or desflurane anesthesia. In addition, although pain has been suspected in the genesis of this complication, emergence delirium has also been described after nonpainful procedure (imaging). Prevention of this complication relies on preventing preoperative anxiety (using premedication and psychological approaches), providing a sufficient analgesia (either systemically or by regional analgesia) and administering intraoperative sedative agents such as ketamine, clonidine, dexmedetomidine, gabapentine, midazolam, magnesium, hydroxyzine, midazolam and dexamethasone. Treatment of emergence delirium should be pharmacological when facing intense agitation with self-injury risks. This could be achieved using propofol, opioid agents or dexmedetomidine. As a result of the delayed discharge from a postoperative care unit associated with these agents, dexmedetomidine should be favored because of its analgesic and postoperative nausea and vomiting preventive effects. As emergence delirium shares many risk factors with long-lasting cognitive complications such as postoperative maladaptative behavioral changes, letting parents know about these complications is requested. Emergence delirium in children is a frequent but preventable complication. Strategies for prevention and therapy include particularly pain management and medication with alpha-2 agonists.

Opioid side effects are a great concern during the postoperative period in children. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to effectively decrease postoperative pain, but their opioid-sparing effect is still controversial. In this present meta-analysis, we investigated the postoperative opioid-sparing effect of NSAIDs in children. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify clinical trials using NSAIDs and opioids as perioperative analgesic compounds in children and infants. Outcomes measured were opioid consumption, pain intensity, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and urinary retention. All outcomes were studied during postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and the first 24 postoperative hours. Data from each trial were combined to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence interval. Twenty-seven randomized controlled studies were analyzed. Perioperative administration of NSAIDs decreased postoperative opioid requirement (both in the PACU and during the first 24 postoperative hours; SMD = −0.66 [−0.84, −0.48] and −0.83 [−1.11, −0.55], respectively), pain intensity in the PACU (SMD = −0.85 [−1.24, −0.47]), and PONV during the first 24 postoperative hours (OR = 0.75 [0.57–0.99]). NSAIDs did not decrease pain intensity during the first 24 postoperative hours (OR = 0.56 [0.26–1.2]) and PONV during PACU stay (OR = 1.02 [0.73–1.44]). Subgroup analysis according to the timing of NSAID administration (intraoperative versus postoperative), type of surgery, or coadministration of paracetamol did not show any influence of these factors on the studied outcomes except the reduction of pain intensity and the incidence of PONV during the first 24 postoperative hours, which were influenced by the coadministration of paracetamol and the type of surgery, respectively. This meta-analysis shows that perioperative NSAID administration reduces opioid consumption and PONV during the postoperative period in children.

Urinary retention is a common postoperative complication associated with bladder overdistension and the risk of permanent detrusor damage. The goal of this study was to determine predictive factors of early postoperative urinary retention in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). We prospectively collected, in 313 adult patients, variables including age, gender, previous history of urinary tract symptoms, type of surgery and anesthesia, intraoperative administration of anticholinergics, amount of intraoperative fluids, IV morphine titration, and bladder volume on entry to the PACU. For each patient, bladder volume was measured by ultrasound on entry and before discharge from the PACU. Urinary retention was defined as a bladder volume larger than 600 mL with an inability to void within 30 min. Predictive factors were identified by multivariate analysis. The incidence of urinary retention in the PACU was 16%. In the multivariate analysis only the amount of intraoperative fluids (>or=750 mL; P = 0.02; odds ratio = 2.3), age (>or=50 yr; P = 0.008; odds ratio = 2.4), and bladder volume on entry to PACU (>or=270 mL; P = 0.0001; odds ratio = 4.8) were found to independently increase the risk of urinary retention. Considering the clinical impact of undiagnosed postoperative urinary retention, these results suggest systematic evaluation of bladder volume with a portable ultrasound device in the PACU, especially in patients with risk factors. In this observational study, the ultrasound monitoring of bladder volume in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) revealed that postoperative urinary retention occurred with an incidence of 16%. Age (>or=50 yr), amount of intraoperative fluid volume (>or=750 mL), and bladder volume on entry to PACU (>or=270 mL) were independent predictive factors for this complication.