A Comparison of the Effects of Sevoflurane, Propofol, and Propofol Combined with Butorphanol in Suppressing Sufentanil-Induced cough—A Randomized Controlled Trial

To study the safety and efficacy of sevoflurane pretreatment in preventing sufentanil-induced cough in children and to compare its antitussive effect with that of butorphanol, an opioid analgesic that has been proven effective in clinical trials. This was a prospective randomized controlled trial. A total of 174 patients who underwent ENT surgery at Chaohu Hospital Affiliated with Anhui Medical University were enrolled and divided into groups S, C and B, with 58 patients in each group, according to the random number table method. General anesthesia was induced with 5% sevoflurane in Group S, 2.5 mg/kg of propofol and 30 μg/kg of butorphanol in Group B, and 2.5 mg/kg of propofol and 1 mL of normal saline in Group C. The cough grade, intraoperative hemodynamic data, blood oxygen saturation, and adverse reactions within 24 h after the operation were recorded. The overall cough grade significantly differed among the 3 groups (P<0.05). Compared with those of Group C, the cough grades of Groups S and B were significantly lower (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the cough grade between Group S and Group B (P>0.05). Groups S and B cannot be considered equivalent. There were no significant differences in the MAP, HR, SpO2 or BIS value among the three groups at different time points (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, dizziness or chills among the 3 groups (P>0.05). Induction of anesthesia using 5% sevoflurane to reduce Bis to 60 in children significantly reduces the probability of sufentanil-induced coughing (SIC) without significant hemodynamic fluctuations.