title: Propofol-based versus fentanyl-isoflurane-based anesthesia for cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate drug costs, time of mechanical ventilation, complications, and hospital length of stay comparing propofol-based with fentanyl-isoflurane-based anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated, tertiary care community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to either a low-dose fentanyl-isoflurane or a lower-dose fentanyl-isoflurane anesthetic supplemented with a continuous infusion of propofol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fentanyl-isoflurane anesthesia was significantly less expensive ($50.03+/-$27.26 v $121.69+/-$31.40) for anesthesia drugs and ($58.08+/-$27.39 v $129.91+/-$31.52) for total drug costs. There was also a trend for patients in the fentanyl-isoflurane group to be extubated slightly sooner (388+/-202 v 449+/-252 min) and go home sooner (5.1+/-1.8 v 6.0+/-3.0 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fentanyl-isoflurane provides an inexpensive anesthetic that permits as prompt an extubation as propofol, thus conserving resources for other patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Saint Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, OH 43608, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Engoren
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kraras
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garzia
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D007530:Isoflurane; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol