Background: Intraoperative hyperglycemia caused by neuroendocrine response due to surgical stress can be detrimental in neurosurgery patients. Type of inhalational agent used can affect this response.This study aimed to evaluate intraoperative glucose levels in paediatric patients undergoing elective ventriculoperitoneal shunt under sevoflurane or desflurane as maintenanace anesthesia agent. Methods: We enrolled 40 pediatric patients of 1 months to 2 years of ASAI and II status and were randomised into 2 groups of 20 each who received either desflurane or sevoflurane as maintenace anesthesia agent. Baseline and hourly plasma glucose levels were recorded intraoperatively. Results: In sevoflurane group, the mean blood sugar (mg/dL) increased from 93.34 (9.33) at the baseline to a maximum of 98.92 (9.01) at the 90 minutes. This was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In the desflurane group, the mean blood glucose (mg/dL) increased from 89.34 (9.85) at the baseline to a maximum of 92.37 (9.92) at the 60 minutes and then decreased to 91.04 (10.62) at the 90 minutes. This change was not statistically significant (P = 0.144). No complications were reported intraoperatively. Conclusion: Both inhalational agents showed rise in blood glucose levels however rise was more consistent with sevoflurane. Although these changes were statistically significant but were within normal clinical range.

Blood glucose, desflurane,sevoflurane, ventriculoperitoneal shunt.