Glycopyrrolate does not reduce the incidence of perioperative adverse events in children with upper respiratory tract infections.

Two recent studies have identified copious secretions as an independent risk factor for perioperative adverse events in children who present for elective surgery in the presence of an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). We designed this study, therefore, to determine whether the administration of the anticholinergic drug, glycopyrrolate, to children with URIs would reduce the incidence of adverse perioperative respiratory events. One hundred thirty children (1 mo to 18 yr of age) who presented for elective surgery with a URI were randomized to receive either 0.01 mg/kg glycopyrrolate or placebo and were followed for the appearance and severity of any perioperative respiratory adverse events. The two groups were similar with respect to demographics, presenting URI symptoms, anesthetic management, and surgical procedure. In the intention-to-treat analysis, there were no statistical differences in the incidence or severity of perioperative respiratory adverse events between the glycopyrrolate and placebo groups (45.2% vs 37.5% respectively, P = NS). Furthermore, there were no differences in outcome between the two groups when children with congestion and secretions were analyzed separately (45.0% vs 37.0%, respectively). However, compared with the placebo group, children in the glycopyrrolate group had significantly shorter discharge times (83.9 min vs 111.4 min, P = 0.024), and significantly less postoperative nausea and vomiting (10.7% vs 33.3%, P = 0.005). These results suggest that glycopyrrolate, administered after induction of anesthesia to children with URIs, does not reduce the incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events, and thus may not be clinically indicated for routine use in this population.