Abstract: AIM: To compare the effects of different doses of alfentanil on tracheal intubation conditions, hemodynamic parameters and recovery quality in children undergoing tonsillectomy.  METHODS: Ninety children undergoing tonsillectomy were randomly divided into 3 groups, and received alfentanil 20 μg/kg (A20 group), 40 μg/kg (A40 group) and 60 μg/kg (A60 group) for anesthesiainduction respectively, 30 cases in each group. The remaining anesthesia induction and maintenance protocols were the same. The Helbo-Hansen scores of the three groups were evaluated, and the MAP and HR before anesthesia induction (T0), before tracheal intubation (T1), immediately after tracheal intubation (T2), and 1 min after intubation (T3) as well as the recovery time of spontaneous breathing, eye opening time, extubated time, agitation score in PACU, and adverse drug reactions were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with A20 group, the total values of Helbo-Hansen score and cough scores in group A40 and A60 were lower (P<0.05). Compared with T0, the MAP at T1-T3 were decreased in group A40 and A60, and HR increased at T2 and T3 in group A20 while HR slowed down at T1 in group A40, and at T1-T3 in group A60 (P<0.05). Compared with A20 group, children in group A40 had lower MAP and slower HR at T1-T3, while those in group A60 had lower MAP and slower HR at T1-T3 (P<0.05). The recovery time of spontaneous breathe and extubated time were prolonged in group A60 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: During the anesthesia induction period of tonsillectomy in children, both afentanil 40 μg/kg or 60 μg/kg combined with propofol 3 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg can provide satisfactory intubation condition, while the vital signs are more stable during anesthesia induction in afentanil 40 μg/kg group and rapid extubation after operation can be achieved.

Key words: alfentanil, thyroidectomy, responses of tracheal intubation, children