Clonidine is effective in treating sevoflurane-induced postanesthesia agitation 
in children. We conducted a study on 169 children to quantify the risk reduction 
of clonidine agitation in patients admitted to our day-surgery pediatric clinic. 
Children were randomly allocated to receive clonidine 2 mug/kg or placebo before 
general anesthesia with sevoflurane that was also supplemented with a regional 
or central block. An observer blinded to the anesthetic technique assessed 
recovery variables and the presence of agitation. Pain and discomfort scores 
were significantly decreased in the clonidine group; the incidence of agitation 
was reduced by 57% (P = 0.029) and the incidence of severe agitation by 67% (P = 
0.064). Relative risks for developing agitation and severe agitation were 0.43 
(95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.78) and 0.32 (0.09-1.17), respectively. 
Clonidine produces a substantial reduction in the risk of postsevoflurane 
agitation in children.