Recovery Trajectories After Propofol-Based Intravenous Anesthesia in Toddlers and Older Children

August 11, 2026 updated by: Mariam Ashraf Salah Ali, Assiut University

Age-Stratified Recovery Trajectories Following Propofol-Based Total Intravenous Anesthesia: A Comparative Study Between Toddlers (3-6 Years) and Older Children (6-12 Years)

This observational study aims to compare how quickly and smoothly younger children (ages 3 to 6 years) recover from general anesthesia compared to older children (ages 6 to 12 years).

While inhalational anesthesia (breathing in anesthetic gases) has traditionally been the standard for pediatric surgeries, total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using a short-acting medication called propofol is increasingly being used. Propofol TIVA offers several benefits, including reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting, less airway irritation, a smoother waking process, and an earlier readiness to go home. However, because children's bodies and metabolisms change rapidly as they grow, the way propofol is processed by and clears from the body varies significantly by age.

Currently, there is limited evidence detailing exactly how these age-related differences affect recovery times. To investigate this, researchers will monitor 64 children undergoing elective surgeries (lasting between 30 and 120 minutes) who receive propofol TIVA as their primary anesthetic.

After the procedure, the study will measure the exact time it takes for participants in both age groups to meet specific, standardized safe-discharge criteria (known as Phase II recovery readiness). Researchers will also track several other important recovery factors, including the time it takes for children to open their eyes, pain levels, the occurrence of emergence delirium (agitation or confusion upon waking), and any breathing-related complications. By comparing the recovery trajectories of toddlers and older children, this research seeks to improve postoperative care planning and provide clearer expectations for pediatric intravenous anesthesia.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

64

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of pediatric patients aged 3 to 12 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of I or II, scheduled for elective surgical procedures at Assiut University Hospitals. Eligible participants are those anticipated to have a surgical duration between 30 and 120 minutes and who receive propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) as their primary anesthetic technique. Patients are excluded from the population if they present with neurological disorders, developmental delay, hepatic or renal impairment, obesity (greater than the 95th percentile), or if they are taking concomitant sedative medications.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 3-12 years
  • ASA I-II
  • Elective surgery under general anaesthesia
  • Surgical duration 30-120 minutes
  • Propofol TIVA as the primary anesthetic technique

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neurological disorders
  • Developmental delay
  • Hepatic or renal impairment
  • Obesity (>95th percentile)
  • Concomitant sedative medications

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Toddlers (3-6 years)
Pediatric patients aged 3 to 6 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. This cohort receives a standardized propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) protocol, which includes induction with propofol (2-3 mg/kg IV) and maintenance via continuous infusion utilizing Kataria model predictions.
Older Children (6-12 years)
Pediatric patients aged 6 to 12 years undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. This cohort receives a standardized propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) protocol, which includes induction with propofol (2-3 mg/kg IV) and maintenance via continuous infusion utilizing Kataria model predictions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to Achieve Fast-Track Phase II Recovery Readiness
Time Frame: 2 hours post-surgery
The time elapsed in minutes from the end of surgery (defined as the placement of the last stitch) until the patient achieves Phase II recovery readiness. Readiness is determined using the White Fast-Track Score, which requires patients to achieve a total score of 12 or greater with no individual component scoring less than 1.
2 hours post-surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 11, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Propofol TIVA Recovery by Age

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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