title: The effects of propofol vs. sevoflurane on post-operative pain and need of opioid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-operative pain continues to be a major problem. Some previous studies have suggested that patients anaesthetised with propofol have less pain after surgery than those anesthetised with volatiles. However, the results of previous studies are conflicting. We designed a large-scale trial to study, whether propofol or sevoflurane is more analgesic than the other. We measured opioid consumption in the acute post-operative phase after laparoscopic hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised, prospective single-blind trial, we evaluated the consumption of oxycodone and pain intensity in 148 women for 20 h after laparoscopic hysterectomy under propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia. The primary endpoint was the cumulative amount of oxycodone consumed. Secondary endpoints were pain scores [numeric rating scale (NRS)] at rest and with coughing, severity of nausea and state of sedation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The consumption of oxycodone and the NRS pain scores did not differ between the groups. The oxycodone consumed during first 20 h after surgery was 42.5 (95% confidence interval 38.3-46.6) mg and 42.8 (37.3-48.4) mg in propofol- and sevoflurane-anaesthetised patients, respectively (P = 0.919). NRS scores for nausea were higher in the patients receiving sevoflurane during the first 60 min in the post-anaesthesia care unit, leading to higher consumption of rescue antiemetics. Sedation scores differed in favour of sevoflurane only at 4 h time point after anaesthesia. Patient characteristics did not differ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, comparing sevoflurane with propofol for maintenance of general anaesthesia, the choice of anaesthetic had no effect on the requirement of oxycodone or intensity of pain after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pokkinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yli-Hankala
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kalliomäki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010880:Piperidines; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077208:Remifentanil; D058994:Salpingectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018681:Anesthetics, General; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000932:Antiemetics; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D009294:Narcotics; D010880:Piperidines; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D010098:Oxycodone; D000077208:Remifentanil; D015742:Propofol