Background and aims Sevoflurane is an inhalatory general anaesthetic administrated to paediatric oncological patients undergoing radiotherapy and is related to high incidence of emergence agitation.

This study investigates gastrointestinal side effects with sevoflurane.

Methods Our retrospective study included 100 oncologic paediatric patients with mean age of 33.67 ± 2.12 months, weight mean 15.22 ± 0.44 kg, height 94.68 ± 2.24 cm undergoing anaesthesia for radiotherapy immobilisation purpose.

Results All patients received sevoflurane 8% for induction and anaesthesia maintenance. The mean of radiotherapy sessions were 22,43 ± 1.01 days and the period of anaesthesia was 33.09 ± 1.81 min.

Nausea/vomiting were observed during the anaesthesia recovery in 18% (18) patients and this side effect was treated with ondansetron 0.083–0.4 mg/kg (8 patients), dimenhydrinate 1,25 mg/kg (3), dexamethasone 0.20 mg/kg (3), metoclopramide 0.18 mg/kg (1)

Conclusions Antihistaminics (dimenhydrinate) as antiemetic should be administered with caution to patients in post anaesthetic period because of its sedative side effect. Akathisia should be evaluated as dopaminergic antagonists (metoclopramide) side effect in patients under sevoflurante effect.