Search

This study was designed to compare the effects of ketamine and alfentanil administered prior to induction of anaesthesia with propofol, on the haemodynamic changes and ProSeal laryngeal mask airway® (PLMA) insertion conditions in children. Eighty children, aged between 3–132 months, were randomly allocated to receive either alfentanil 20 μg.kg−1 (alfentanil group) or ketamine 0.5 mg.kg−1 (ketamine group) before induction of anaesthesia. Ninety seconds following the administration of propofol 4 mg.kg−1, a PLMA was inserted. In the ketamine group, heart rate and mean arterial pressure were higher during the study period compared with the alfentanil group (p < 0.05). The time for the return of spontaneous ventilation was prolonged in the alfentanil group (p = 0.004). In conclusion, we found that the administration of ketamine 0.5 mg.kg−1 with propofol 4 mg.kg−1 preserved haemodynamic stability, and reduced the time to the return of spontaneous ventilation, compared with alfentanil 20 μg.kg−1 during PLMA placement. In addition, the conditions for insertion of the PLMA with ketamine were similar to those found with alfentanil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by F. Erdil and colleagues to a letter to the editor about the article intrathecal drug in the 2010 issue is presented.