title: Comparison of propofol versus sevoflurane on thermoregulation in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: A preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  General anesthesia causes inhibition of thermoregulatory mechanisms. Propofol has been reported to cause more temperature fall, but in case of deliberate mild hypothermia, both sevoflurane and propofol were comparable. Thermoregulation is found to be disturbed in cases of pituitary tumors. We aimed to investigate which of the two agents, sevoflurane or propofol, results in better preservation of thermoregulation in patients undergoing transsphenoidal excision of pituitary tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients scheduled to undergo transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenomas were randomly allocated to receive propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia. Baseline esophageal temperature was noted. Times for temperature to fall by 1°C or 35°C and to return to baseline were also comparable (P>0.05). After that warmer was started at 43°C and time to rise to baseline was noted. Duration of surgery, total blood loss, and total fluid intake were also noted. If any, side effects such as delayed arousal and recovery from muscle relaxant were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The demographics of the patients were comparable. Duration of surgery and total blood loss were comparable in the two groups. The time for temperature to fall by 1°C or 35°C and time to return to baseline was also comparable (P>0.05). No side effects related to body temperature were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both propofol and sevoflurane show similar effects in maintaining thermal homeostasis in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroanesthesiology, Neurosciences Center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Tumul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Hemanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prabhakar
authors.forename: Sachidanand Jee
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bharati
authors.forename: Keshav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Surya Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Gyaninder Pal
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Singh