Effect of the low-dose propofol or ketamine on coughing in children treated with tonsillectomy after recovery from anesthesia

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of low dose propofol or ketamine on cough in children treated with tonsillectomy after recovery from anesthesia.

MethodsNinety ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients scheduled by tonsillectomy were randomly divided into the propofol group(group P) and ketamine group(group K)(45 cases each group).The group P and group K were intravenously injected with low dose propofol(0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine(0.5 mg/kg) at the end of anesthesia, respectively.After the operation, the occurrence rates of cough in two groups were recorded at T₀, T₀-T₁, T₁-T₂, T₂-T₃, T₃-T₄, T₄-T₅ and T₅-T₆T₀(at the time of extubation), T₁(after 5 min of extubation), T₂(after 10 min of extubation), T₃(after 15 min of extubation), T₄(after 20 min of extubation), T₅(after 25 min of extubation) and T₆(after 30 min of extubation).The pain scores in two groups were recorded after 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h and 8 h of operation, respectively.The incidence rate of postoperative vomiting in two groups were recorded.

ResultsThe incidence rates of cough in group P at each time-point were lower than that in group K, the pain scores in group P after 10 min 20 min 30 min of operation were higher than that in group K, and the incidence rate of postoperative vomiting in group P was lower than that in group K(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsFor children treated with tonsillectomy, compared with 0.5 mg/kg of low-dose ketamine the intravenous injection of 0.5 mg/kg of low-dose propofol after anesthesia can effectively reduce the cough, and incidence rates of nausea and vomiting, but the analgesic effect of propofol is not as good as ketamine.