ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate postanesthetic recovery and complications in outpatient surgery for which anesthetic maintenance was achieved with either isoflurane or propofol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly divided into two groups for prospective study according to anesthetic used: isoflurane (group A) or propofol (group B). The patients were undergoing short surgery and in both groups induction was with 2-2.5 mg/kg propofol, 0.4-0.5 mg/kg atracurium, 20 microgram/kg alfentanil and 20 microgram/kg droperidol. In 40 patients maintenance was with 0.5-1% isoflurane (group A) and in the remaining 40 0.1-1.15 mg/kg/min propofol (group B) was used; in both groups 50% N2O-O2 was used. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences in time until eye opening after a verbal command (3.8 +/- 2 in group A and 4.1 +/- 2.8 min in group B), in time until the patient was able to answer five questions (6.5 +/- 3 in group A and 6 +/- 2.9 min in group B) or in Aldrete test scores upon awakening (9 +/- 1 in group A and 8.7 +/- 0.9 in group B). Nor were there differences in frequency of nausea reported (2 in each group) or in level of pain after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery and incidence of complications after out-patient anesthesia were similar when anesthetic maintenance was achieved with propofol or isoflurane.
