ABSTRACT : 1.Primary: To study and compare the effects of intravenous ketamine and varying doses of fentanyl on emergence agitation in children receiving sevofluraneanaesthesia.
2.Secondary: To observe the recovery characteristics including time to extubation, discharge from PACU and postoperative nausea and vomiting in these patients.

METHODS : This prospective,single blind, randomized comparative study was conducted on 114 children, 2-12 years, with ASA physical status I-II, posted for herniotomy under sevofluraneanaesthesia, randomly divided into Group A, receiving ketamine 0.5mg/kg, Group B fentanyl 2mcg/kg and Group C fentanyl 3mcg/kg at the time of induction.Postoperatively EA was assessed every 5min during first 60 min of PACU stay using Aono\'s four point scale.Time to extubation, emergence time, discharge from PACU and postoperative complications were also observed.

RESULTS : The incidence of EA was significantly low in Group A(31.6%) and Group C (28.9%) compared to group B (65.8%), with no significant difference between Group A and Group C. A prolonged PACU stay was observed in all children who developed EA, with lesser duration of PACU stay noted in fentanyl 3 mcg/kg groups.

CONCLUSIONS : Intravenous administration of either ketamine 0.5mg/kg or fentanyl 3mcg/kg iv at the time of induction reduces the incidence of EA effectively when compared with fentanyl 2mcg/kg, without delaying recovery in children undergoing general anaesthesia using sevoflurane.