Vol. 2 Issue 2 Part A

Methods: In this randomized trial, children having EUA had their intramuscular ketamine hydrochloride and breathed sevoflurane gas to compare their IOP. As soon as feasible after anesthetic induction (T₁) and at two, four, six, and eight minutes later, the intraocular pressure (IOP) in thirty eyes was measured. We simultaneously monitored heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP).

Result: For every measurement taken between two and eight minutes later, the sevoflurane group's IOP was considerably lower than the mean IOP at T₁ (mean drop in IOP: two minutes = 12%, four minutes = 19%, six minutes = 19%, eight minutes = 17%, all p<.01). Mean IOP in the ketamine group was 7% lower (P =.03) at eight minutes, but did not change significantly from T₁ through six minutes. At two minutes onward, sevoflurane significantly lowered SBP and DBP compared to ketamine at all measurements; at two, four, and six minutes, sevoflurane also lowered HR.

Conclusion: Compared to sevoflurane anesthesia, the IOP recorded following ketamine sedation is more likely to reflect the IOP while awake. Sevoflurane's effects on IOP may be due to hemodynamic changes, as seen by changes in SBP, DBP, and HR.