Combined sevoflurane/sufentanil anesthesia for removal of tracheal foreign bodies in pediatric surgery, and its effect on hemodynamics

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of sevoflurane + sufentanil combination anesthesia in pediatric surgery for removal of tracheal foreign bodies, and its effect on hemodynamics. Methods: A total of 128 children with airway foreign bodies were assigned to control and study groups, each with 64 children. The control patients received slow intravenous injection of propofol (3 mg/kg). The study group was given 5 % sevoflurane and a slow intravenous injection of sufentanil (0.3 mu g/kg). Hemodynamic parameters (diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded before induction of anesthesia, at the time of intubation, during placement of a rigid bronchoscope (when the lens was placed), during removal of foreign bodies, and when extubating. Complications in children in the two groups after the removal of airway foreign body were recorded. Results: At the times of intubation and extubation, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly increased in both groups, but appreciably lower values were seen in study group. The major complications in pediatric airway foreign body removal in two groups were vomiting, bronchospasm and holding of breath. Conclusion: In children with airway extraction, sevoflurane, in combination with sufentanil produced better anesthetic effect and less impact on hemodynamics than propofol. Moreover, the children woke up faster and had fewer complications. The combined anesthesia is safe and reliable. However, the clinical application of this combined anesthesia requires larger-sample clinical studies.