title: [Anesthesia with isoflurane in air and with isoflurane and nitrous oxide].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to control the depth, the quality of recovery of total inhalation isoflurane anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled comparative study was carried out on 51 patients, aged 40-54 yr, ASA 1, undergoing saphenectomy, in an University Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Induction: thiopental (3.5 mg kg), atracurium (0.6 mg kg) i.v. Patients were randomly assigned to: group 1 (26 patients), 5% isoflurane in air, by mask; group 2 (25 patients), 3% isoflurane and 60% N2O, by mask. Maintenance: group 1, 2% isoflurane in air; group 2, 1.2% isoflurane and 60% N2O. During anesthesia, consciousness and analgesia level were monitored by EEG Compressed Spectral Array, and clinical signs of pain by Evans' test; arousal time evaluation by "Time to correct response test". The subjective impressions, eventual dreams and recalls were collected using a standard set of questions one hour after the end of anesthesia and 24 hours later. One hour before anesthesia and two hours after the end of surgical procedures, a psychomotor performance recovery evaluation was performed using Zazzo's "deux barrages" test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Student's "t" test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate anesthetic depth was documented in all patients. Recovery time was statistically longer in isoflurane group (group 1 16.7 sd 2.2 minutes vs 10.3 sd 1.9 minutes group 2, p < 0.01). No patient reported recalls relative to anesthetic period. Two hours after recovery no significant differences in psychomotor performance tests were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isoflurane anesthesia in air, in adequate concentrations, provides a sufficient level of analgesia, hypnosis, amnesia, without clinical side effects.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cellai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pieraccioli
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
chemical_list: D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
vernacular_title: Anestesia con isoflurano in aria e con isoflurano e protossido di azoto.