Context: There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal timing for tracheal extubation in children at increased risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events, particularly following adenotonsillectomy.
Objective: To assess the occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events in children undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy extubated under deep anaesthesia or when fully awake.
Design: Prospective, randomised controlled trial.
Setting: Tertiary paediatric hospital.
Patients: One hundred children (<16 years), with at least one risk factor for perioperative respiratory adverse events (current or recent upper respiratory tract infection in the past 2 weeks, eczema, wheezing in the past 12 months, dry nocturnal cough, wheezing on exercise, family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever as well as passive smoking).
Intervention: Deep or awake extubation.
Main outcome measure: The occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, persistent coughing, airway obstruction, desaturation <95%).
Results: There were no differences between the two groups with regard to age, medical and surgical parameters. The overall incidence of complications did not differ between the two groups; tracheal extubation in fully awake children was associated with a greater incidence of persistent coughing (60 vs. 35%, P = 0.028), whereas the incidence of airway obstruction relieved by simple airway manoeuvres in children extubated while deeply anaesthetised was greater (26 vs. 8%, P = 0.03). There was no difference in the incidence of oxygen desaturation lasting more than 10 s.
Conclusion: There was no difference in the overall incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events. Both extubation techniques may be used in high-risk children undergoing adenotonsillectomy provided that the child is monitored closely in the postoperative period.
Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12609000387224.