title: The effect of a subhypnotic dose of propofol for the prevention of coughing in adults during emergence from anesthesia with sevoflurane and remifentanil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coughing during emergence from general anesthesia may be detrimental. Propofol is known to inhibit airway reflexes. We evaluated the incidence and severity of coughing in adults who received a subhypnotic dose of propofol at the end of sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients, aged 18-65 years, undergoing elective nasal surgery under general anesthesia using sevoflurane and remifentanil were randomly allocated to the propofol group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). At the end of surgery, sevoflurane and remifentanil infusion was stopped. After 3 min, the propofol group received propofol 0.3 mg/kg and the control group received normal saline 0.03 ml/kg. The incidence and severity of cough, recovery time and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated during the emergence period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During emergence, the propofol group had the significantly lower incidence (60 vs. 87%) and severity of coughing compared with the control group (P = 0.04, P = 0.02, respectively). There were no significant differences in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and recovery time during emergence between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During emergence from sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia, a subhypnotic dose (0.3 mg/kg) of propofol decreases the incidence and severity of coughing without delaying wake up in adults undergoing nasal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Deok
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Cough; Emergence; Propofol