Combined remifentanil/sevoflurane in paediatric tonsil surgery anesthesia: Effect on recovery time of respiration and consciousness in paediatric patients

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined remifentanil/sevoflurane anesthesia on hemodynamic stability and postoperative recovery in paediatric tonsil surgery. Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 102 paediatric patients who underwent tonsil surgery in Taihe County People's Hospital between February 2021 and April 2022 were recruited and randomized at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either propofol alone (control group) or remifentanil plus sevoflurane (study group) during paediatric tonsil surgery, with 51 patients in each group. The anaesthetic effect of the two regimens was the primary endpoint and was evaluated by monitoring the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels of the patients before anaesthesia (T0), immediately after intubation (T1), at the beginning of surgery (T2) and at extubation (T3). Results: Remifentanil plus sevoflurane resulted in more stable MAP and HR of patients at T1, T2 and T3 than propofol alone (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients in the two groups exhibited similar SpO2 levels at T0, T1, T2 and T3 (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The combined use of remifentanil and sevoflurane anaesthetics is effective in paediatric patients undergoing tonsil surgery and thus may offer a viable alternative for such clinical practice. The drug combination maintains intraoperative haemodynamic stability in patients, boosts postoperative recovery, and lowers the risk of postoperative adverse events.