Complications of sevoflurane–fentanyl versus midazolam–fentanyl anesthesia in pediatric cleft lip and palate surgery: a randomized comparison study

Careful choice of anesthetic agents in pediatric patients reduces the frequency of anesthesia-related complications. The frequency and type of intraoperative and postoperative complications of sevoflurane–fentanyl versus midazolam–fentanyl anesthesia were compared in 140 consecutive children (aged 3 months to 10 years) undergoing cleft lip and palate repair. Midazolam–fentanyl anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.05 mg/kg), fentanyl (0.005 mg/kg) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg), and maintained with the same agents according to the defined parametars. Sevoflurane–fentanyl anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane (5–8 vol% and 0.8–1 vol%, respectively) in an oxygen/air mixture and supplemented with fentanyl (0.005 mg/kg). Both groups were comparable in basic demographic data, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. Difficult intubation occurred in 6 of 76 children (midazolam–fentanyl group) and 4 of 64 children (sevoflurane–fentanyl group) (P = 0.754). Ventricular extrasystole and bronchospasm occurred in one patient each in the sevoflurane–fentanyl group. Postoperatively, emergence agitation was observed in the sevoflurane–fentanyl group (17 cases; P < 0.001); postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 2 children (midazolam–fentanyl group) and 3 children (sevoflurane–fentanyl group) (P = 0.660). Midazolam-based anesthesia in children is safer than sevoflurane-based anesthesia regarding occurrence of emergence agitation.