Comparative study of haemodynamic effects of intravenous ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl for laryngeal mask airway insertions in children undergoing herniotomy under general anaesthesia in a nigerian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND

Insertion of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with propofol in children may cause hypotension, laryngospasm and apnoea. Ketamine and fentanyl have been combined separately with propofol to prevent depression of cardiovascular system during LMA insertion, especially in paediatric patients. Ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations have analgesic effect, prevent coughing and apnoea and regarded as agents of choice for LMA insertions. However, the cardiovascular effects of the two admixtures for LMA insertions have not been fully assessed in children. We compared the haemodynamic effects of ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations for LMA insertion in paediatric patients who underwent herniotomy in our facility.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

This comparative study was conducted on 80 children aged 1-15 years, ASA physical Statuses I and II, who had herniotomy under general anaesthesia. The patients were randomised into two groups (A and B) of 40 patients each and LMA was inserted following administrations of the two different drug combinations. Patients in Group A received pre-mixed ketamine 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 μg/kg while the patients in Group B received pre-mixed propofol 2.5 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 μg/kg. The blood pressure and incidence of apnoea were determined in the two groups during and after the LMA insertion.

RESULTS

The haemodynamic states of the patients were not comparable statistically as the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher and stable in the ketamine-fentanyl group than the propofol-fentanyl group (P < 0.05). The incidence of apnoea was significantly lower in the ketamine-fentanyl group compared with propofol-fentanyl group (P = 0.045), but post-anaesthesia discharge scores were similar, with no significant difference in both groups (P = 0.241).

CONCLUSION

The use of ketamine-fentanyl combination for LMA insertion in paediatric patients was associated with better haemodynamic changes and lower incidence of apnoea when compared with propofol-fentanyl combination.