title: Anaesthesia for cardioversion: a comparison of sevoflurane and propofol.
abstract: This study compared the induction time, haemodynamic changes, recovery characteristics and patient satisfaction for sevoflurane and propofol when used as the main anaesthetic agents for cardioversion. Sixty-one unpremedicated patients scheduled for elective cardioversion were anaesthetised with either inhaled sevoflurane 8% or an intravenous propofol target-controlled infusion set at 6 microg.ml(-1). There was no significant difference in induction time between the two groups: mean (SD) = 90.1(40) s in the sevoflurane group vs. 83.7(35) s in the propofol group. Mean (SD) time to recovery was significantly shorter in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group: 318 (127) s vs.738 (355) s, respectively, p < 0.001. At recovery, the patients in the propofol group had significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those in the sevoflurane group, p < 0.001. The incidence of complications was low in both groups, with similar patient satisfaction expressed after the procedure. We conclude that sevoflurane is a suitable choice for anaesthesia for cardioversion and may provide greater haemodynamic stability than a target-controlled infusion of propofol.
authors.affiliation: Yorkshire Heart Centre, Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balachandran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cort
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parsloe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015742:Propofol; D000077149:Sevoflurane
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D010100:Oxygen; D015742:Propofol