To compare the effects of inhalation combined anesthesia and total intravenous anesthesia on postoperative delirium after hernia repair in preschool children.

A total of 55 preschool children aged<7 years old who were able to express themselves clearly were enrolled. The patients underwent hernia repair were subjected to general anesthesia. They were randomly divided into inhalation combined anesthesia (Inh group) and total intravenous anesthesia (Ven group). General anesthesia was induced with 2 to 3 mg/kg propofol. Intraoperative anesthesia was maintained by intravenous inhalation (sevoflurane-remifentanil) or total intravenous anesthesia (propofol-remifentanil). Anesthesia depth were monitored by Bispectral index (BIS) ranging from 45 to 55. At 1 h and 3 d after operation, the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) rating scale was used to determine whether the patients had postoperative delirium. At the same time, the anesthesia emergence time, the recovery time of the orientation and the satisfaction of the family members of the children subjected to the two different anesthesia methods were compared.

The PAED scores at 1 h postoperatively in the Inh group and the Ven group were (7.44±0.71) scores and (5.64±0.56) scores, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The anesthesia satisfaction scores of the family members of the Inh group and the Ven group, measured at 1 h after surgery, were (3.82±0.29)scores and (3.04±0.26) scores, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The PAED scores at 3 d postoperatively in the Inh group and the Ven group were 0 (median) and 0 (median), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Compared with total intravenous anesthesia, inhalation combined anesthesia leads to more postoperative delirium after hernia repair in preschool children.