ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Experience of wakefulness and pain perception during general anesthesia can be distressful to patients. For cesarean section, a light plane of general anesthesia is chosen for fetal safety and rapid recovery; there is an increased incidence of maternal wakefulness. Propofol may be the choice if smooth induction and rapid maternal recovery are desired. We compared propofol with thiopental sodium as an induction agent of anesthesia in cesarean section, noting in particular the patients wakefulness during operation. METHODS: Twenty six patients who underwent cesarean section received either thiopental sodium 4 mg/kg (n=13) or propofol 2.5 mg/kg (n=13) as an induction agent. To assess intraoperative wakefulness, a tourniquet was applied before the administration of succinylcholine for maintaining motor function in one arm. Wakefulness during anesthesia could be assessed by asking the patient to move her hand. RESULTS: Although the changes in blood pressure and heart rate were similar in both groups, the propofol group had a less increasing systolic blood pressure from the period immediately and 1 minute after intubation (P<0.05). The patients administered with propofol showed significantly higher incidences of "followed commands" and "made reaching movements" (P<0.05). The incidence of dreams was higher in the propofol group than thiopental sodium group. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol was similar to thiopental sodium in hemodynamic effects on mother, but incidence of intraoperative wakefulness was significantly increased in the propofol groups.