Side-effects after inhalational anaesthesia for paediatric cerebral magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the type, incidence and duration of postprocedure side-effects in 168 children within the first 72 h after inhalational anaesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Premedication and induction followed standardized routines. Maintenance of anaesthesia was performed with inhalational anaesthetics solely: isoflurane (n=60 of 112; 53%), sevoflurane (n=32 of 112; 29%), desflurane (n=12 of 112; 11%) or halothane (n= 8 of 112; 7%) using a strapped on face mask (FiO2=0.4; flow 5 l.min-1). When indicated, gadolinium was administered (n=45; OF 112; 40%).


RESULTS
One hundred and twelve of 168 parents (67%) responded to questionnaires. In these 112 children, pathological MR findings were found supratentorially (n=31; 28%), infratentorially (n=9; 8%), extracerebrally (n=12; 11%) or combined (n=9; 8%). In 56 of these 112 children (50%), 14 different side-effects were reported. One hour after anaesthesia, 55 children suffered between one and four side-effects. Neurological side-effects were associated with age > or = 5 years (P < 0.01) or infratentorial pathophysiology (P < 0.01) and abdominal side-effects (P < 0.02), especially nausea (P < 0.001) with age > or = 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate the need to inform parents of the incidence and variability of side-effects after inhalational anaesthesia for minimally invasive, diagnostic procedures, such as MRI.
Sandner-Kiesling
Andreas
A
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria. andreas.sandner@uni-graz.at
Schwarz
Gerhard
G
Vicenzi
Martin
M
Fall
Astrid
A
James
Robert L
RL
Ebner
Franz
F
List
Werner F
WF
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001317:Austria; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology*; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane