Abstract :
Introduction: In the practice of paediatric anaesthesia, intubation of trachea without using neuromuscular
blocking agents is becoming commoner more so in conditions in which muscle relaxants are not preferred.
Different combinations of drugs including opioids, intravenous agents and inhalational agents are being
used for facilitating endotracheal intubation when muscle relaxants are not used. In this study we compared
intubating conditions in paediatric patients after sevoflurane induction and propofol in two different doses.
Materials and Methods: 80 children of 2 to 12 years age undergoing elective surgeries were divided into
two groups P2 and P3 of 40 each. After sevoflurane induction and fentanyl 2mcg/kg I.V. group P2 received
propofol 2mg/kg and group P3 received propofol 3mg/kg I.V. The two groups were compared with respect
to intubating conditions and haemodynamic parameters.
Results: Clinically acceptable intubating conditions were seen in all patients in both groups. Excellent
intubating conditions were more in group P3 (87.5%) than group P2 (80%). Haemodynamic parameters
showed no significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: In paediatric patients, endotracheal intubation can be comfortably performed without muscle
relaxants by using propofol and fentanyl with sevoflurane induction with no respiratory or haemodynamic
adverse events. Propofol in a dose of 3mg/kg gives better intubating conditions than 2mg/kg without
adverse haemodynamic effects, although 2mg/kg propofol also gives acceptable intubating conditions.
Keyword :
Paediatric patients, Intubating conditions, Propofol, Sevoflurane.