WITHDRAWN: Co-administration of sufentanil and dexmedetomidine prevents emergence agitation in pediatric patients

// Li-Ting Hou 1 , Yong-Hong Bi 1 , Xiao-Guang Cui 1 , Zhi-Jia Feng 1 and Yan-Zhuo Zhang 1 1 Department of Anesthesiology, China and Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Anesthesia and Critical Care, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China Correspondence to: Yan-Zhuo Zhang, email: zhangyanzhuo625@sina.com Keywords: tonsillectomy; adenoidectomy; emergence agitation; dexmedetomidine; sufentanil Received: July 07, 2017      Accepted: December 01, 2017      Published: January 02, 2018 ABSTRACT We compared the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine alone and combined with sufentanil for preventing emergence agitation in children under sevoflurane anesthesia. Eighty children scheduled for tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy under sevoflurane anesthesia were randomized into four groups: control, dexmedetomidine, dexmedetomidine with 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil (Dex+Suf1), and dexmedetomidine with 0.2 μg/kg sufentanil (Dex+Suf2). The incidence and severity of emergence agitation was evaluated based on Aono’s scale and the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium scale. The incidence of agitation was 45% in the control group, 20% in the dexmedetomidine group, 5% in Dex+Suf1 group, and 0% in Dex+Suf2 group. The Aono’s and pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium scores in the Dex+Suf1 and Dex+Suf2 groups were lower than in the control or dexmedetomidine group during the tracheal extubation ( P < 0.05). In the Dex+Suf1 and Dex+Suf2 groups, the time of tracheal extubation was longer than in the control or dexmedetomidine group ( P < 0.05). The Dex+Suf2 group had longer tracheal extubation and awaken times than the other groups ( P < 0.05). Thus dexmedetomidine with 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil was the optimal dose combination that reduced emergence agitation without prolonging awaken time.