Fruit-flavoured mask for isoflurane induction in children

Summary The effect of disguising the odour of isoflurane with fruit flavouring, upon the quality of inhalational induction, was studied in 41 children aged 3–10 years in a double-blind, randomised trial. Facemasks were either lightly coated with fruit extract or moistened with water so that their appearance was identical to children, anaesthetist and observer. Children allocated to receive fruit flavouring were significantly quieter than the placebo group, but their degree of movement during induction was unchanged. The incidence of respiratory complications including breath-holding, laryngospasm and coughing was similar in both groups. Overall impression of the quality of induction as assessed by the anaesthetist showed no difference between the groups. This simple, cheap modification of inhalational induction warrants further appraisal while the case for disguising the odour of isoflurane remains unproven.