BACKGROUND: This study was doned to evaluate the rate of awakening after desflurane or isoflurane anesthesia in pediatric tonsillectomy patients. METHODS: Sixty patients, aged 5 10 years undergoing a tonsillectomy with or without an adenoidectomy were randomly assigned to receive either desflurane-N2O (group D) or isoflurane-N2O (group I). A recovery profile was assessed by a 3 point scale for the first 0, 15 and 30 min in the recovery room. RESULTS: It was statistically significant that group D had a shorter extubation time and eye opening time and a less apprehensive score than group I at 0, 15 and 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that desflurane-N2O may offer clinical advantages over isoflurane when used for maintenance of anesthesia during a pediatric tonsillectomy.