title: Propofol-nitrous oxide versus thiopental-isoflurane-nitrous oxide for general anesthesia.
abstract: One hundred and twenty patients undergoing elective operations were randomly assigned to receive anesthesia with either thiopental, 4 mg/kg-isoflurane, 0.2-3%-nitrous oxide, 60-70% (control) or propofol, 2 mg/kg-propofol infusion, 1-20 mg/min-nitrous oxide, 60-70% (propofol). Although anesthetic conditions were similar during the operation, differences were noted in the recovery characteristics. For non-major (superficial) surgical procedures, the times to awakening, responsiveness, orientation, and ambulation were significantly shorter in the propofol group (4 +/- 3, 5 +/- 4, 6 +/- 4, and 104 +/- 36 min) than in the control group (8 +/- 7, 9 +/- 7, 11 +/- 9, and 142 +/- 61 min, respectively). In addition, less nausea and vomiting (20 vs. 45%) and significantly less psychomotor impairment was noted in the non-major propofol (vs. control) group. Following major abdominal operations, recovery characteristics did not differ between propofol and control groups. Delayed emergence (greater than 20 min), significant psychometric impairment, and a high overall incidence of postoperative side effects (55-60%) were noted in both drug treatment groups. The authors conclude that propofol-nitrous oxide compares favorably to thiopental-isoflurane-nitrous oxide for maintenance of anesthesia during short outpatient procedures. However, for major abdominal operations, propofol anesthesia does not appear to offer any clinically significant advantages over a standard inhalational anesthetic technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, California.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Doze
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000777:Anesthetics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D010636:Phenols; D015742:Propofol; D011897:Random Allocation; D013874:Thiopental
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D010636:Phenols; D007530:Isoflurane; D013874:Thiopental; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D015742:Propofol