Emergence agitation in children is frequently associated with sevoflurane general anesthesia. We measured the effects of propofol and nalbuphine on emergence agitation after sevoflurane anesthesia in children for strabismus surgery.

Ninety pediatric patients receiving sevoflurane anesthesia for elective strabismus surgery were enrolled. They were randomized to receive either saline (Group S), propofol 1 mg/kg (Group P), or nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg (Group N) at the end of surgery. We evaluated the incidence of emergence agitation and recovery in the postanesthesia care unit.

The time to recovery was similar between the three study groups. The incidence of agitation was significantly lower in Group N compared with Group S, but the incidence of agitation between Group S and Group P was not different.

Nalbuphine 0.1 mg/kg at the end of strabismus surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia effectively reduced emergence agitation in children without delaying recovery, but propofol did not.