BACKGROUND: This study compared the incidence of emergence agitation and the recovery profile from sevoflurane anesthesia after thiopental sodium, propofol or ketamine induction in pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy.

METHODS: Forty eight children aged 1-7 years undergoing high ligation due to an inguinal hernia were examined. All patients received a 0.004 mg/kg glycopyrrolate injection for premedication prior to induction and were randomly assigned to receive thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg (Group T, n = 16), propofol 2 mg/kg (Group P, n = 16) or ketamine 1 mg/kg (Group K, n = 16) for induction. The side effects during the induction time were checked. All patients received sevoflurane (2-2.5 vol%)-N2O (2 L/min)-O2 (2 L/min) for the maintenance of anesthesia. Ventilation was given to assist spontaneous ventilation using a facial mask. The agitation score, pain score, discharge score, incidence of emergence agitation and postoperative side effects in the three groups were assessed at the recovery room and compared.

RESULTS: The emergence time in Group T (7.5 ± 1.8 min) was significantly rapid. The agitation and pain scores were significantly low in Group P. The discharge score was more rapid in Groups P and K than in Group T. The incidence of emergence agitation was similar in all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Although recovery was faster and emergence agitation was low in the propofol group, propofol induction was not smooth compared with thiopental or ketamine induction. The incidence of emergence agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy was similar in the thiopental sodium, propofol or ketamine induction groups.