Using the perfusion index to monitor children during low-flow anesthesia

Changes in Perfusion Index Under Low-Flow Anesthesia and Its Effects on Postoperative Emergence in Pediatric Patients

Not applicable Interventional Istinye University · NCT06967675

This project tests whether tracking the perfusion index during low-flow versus normal-flow anesthesia can help predict blood flow stability and emergence agitation in children aged 2 to 12 having elective surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment90 (estimated)
Ages2 Years to 12 Years
SexAll
SponsorIstinye University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Istanbul, Merkez Mahallesi)
Trial IDNCT06967675 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an observational interventional-arm comparison in which pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery under routine care are assigned to low-flow or normal-flow anesthesia groups. The perfusion index (PI) will be recorded at multiple intraoperative and postoperative time points alongside hemodynamic measures and depth-of-anesthesia markers. The study will compare PI trajectories between groups and examine whether PI changes are linked to hemodynamic stability and the occurrence of emergence agitation. No additional interventions beyond standard clinical care will be applied.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are ASA I–II children aged 2–12 years having elective surgeries lasting 1–6 hours whose parents or guardians provide consent and who have no major cardiopulmonary, neurologic, metabolic, or developmental disorders.

Not a fit: Children with significant cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurodevelopmental disorders, those requiring emergency surgery or inhalational induction, or operations needing high gas flows or lasting over six hours are excluded and unlikely to benefit from these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could use perfusion index monitoring to better predict recovery patterns and reduce emergence agitation after pediatric low-flow anesthesia.

How similar studies have performed: Prior adult and some pediatric studies have found correlations between perfusion index and peripheral perfusion or anesthesia depth, but results are mixed and its ability to predict emergence agitation is still limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* ASA I-II pediatric patients
* Age 2 to 12 years
* Undergoing elective surgery lasting between 1-6 hours
* Informed consent obtained from parents/guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, metabolic, or endocrine disorders
* Premature birth with corrected age \< 2 years
* Obesity or severe malnutrition (BMI \<5th or \>95th percentile)
* Psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism)
* Malignant hyperthermia or hypersensitivity to anesthetics
* Emergency surgeries
* Lack of IV access requiring inhalational induction
* Contraindications to low-flow anesthesia including:
* Severe pulmonary disease
* Congenital heart disease with shunt physiology
* Anticipated high oxygen demand
* Airway obstruction risk
* Surgeries requiring high gas flow or \>6 hours duration

Where this trial is running

Istanbul, Merkez Mahallesi

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Perfusion IndexLow-Flow AnesthesiaPostoperative Recovery
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.