RESUMO
To investigate the role of the timing of extubation on the incidence of laryngospasm in children we studied 299 patients randomly extubated either in deep level of anesthesia (group p, n=150) or fully awake (group A, n=149)). Intubations were done without muscle relaxants in the majority of cases. All patients received halothane and nitrous oxide as anesthetics and were maintained in spontaneous ventilation. Patients who underwent throat operation, those under 6 months old as well as those with full stomach were excluded. Patients in group P and A aged respectively 62 more or less 40 months and 59 more or less44 months (NS). There was no difference between the two groups with regard to the incidence of laryngospasm (group P:4.66 percents; group A: 2.68 percents), butgroup P presented a higher incidence of airway obstruction due to dislodgment of the tongue against the posterior wall of pharynx. Based on these data the authors recommend that children shold be extubated while fully awake