Reduced emergence agitation with proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery

Purpose:To investigate the effect of proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops on emergence agitation after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery.Methods:Paediatric patients(3-12 years-old)receiving strabismus surgery were randomly assigned to receive 1-2 drops of isotonic saline(n=129)or proparacaine hydrochloride(n=129)after surgery.The incidence and degree of emergence agitation were recorded and compared between groups.Results:A significantly lower occurrence of emergence agitation was observed with proparacaine hydrochloride drops compared to isotonic saline(12.4% vs.31.8%;p<0.05).Conclusion:Proparacaine hydrochloride eye drops reduce the incidence of emergence agitation after general anaesthesia for paediatric strabismus surgery.