[Comparison of sevoflurane and propofol in the maintenance of and recovery from anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the recovery of patients after anesthesia with sevoflurane or propofol during open urological surgery or lumbar column surgery of intermediate duration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six ASA I, II or II patients were enrolled prospectively and randomly assigned to two groups to receive either sevoflurane (n = 19) or proporol (n = 17). Anesthetic induction was accomplished with thiopental, fentanil and vecuronium. During anesthetic maintenance a mixture of 60% nitrous oxide in oxygen plus the drug under study was adjusted to keep blood pressure and/or heart rate within +/- 20% of baseline. After surgery we recorded time until eye opening, spontaneous breathing, extubation, orientation, and identification of parts of the body. Side effects were likewise recorded. In the postanesthetic recovery ward patient condition was assessed using the Aldrete scale, the Newman-Trieger test and a visual analog scale for postoperative pain. Consumption of analgesic during the first 24 h after surgery was monitored.

RESULTS: No significant differences were found in demographic data; duration of anesthesia; anesthetic doses; or time until spontaneous breathing, extubation, orientation or identification of parts of the body. Only time until eye opening was shorter in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group (6.9 +/- 3.3 vs 11.5 +/- 4.8 min; p < 0.05). No differences were recorded on scales reflecting intermediate-term recovery. Analgesic consumption and the incidence of side effects were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane and propofol are comparable for anesthetic maintenance in urological and neurological procedures of intermediate duration.