Emergence agitation after orthognathic surgery: a randomised controlled comparison between sevoflurane and desflurane.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to compare emergence agitation following sevoflurane and desflurane anaesthesia in adults undergoing orthognathic surgery. The hypothesis was that there might be a difference in the incidence of emergence agitation following sevoflurane and desflurane anaesthesia considering the difference in blood solubility and speed of recovery between the two.


METHODS
In this prospective randomised double-blind study, 144 adults undergoing orthognathic surgery were randomly allocated to either sevoflurane or desflurane anaesthesia. The incidence of emergence agitation and possible causative factors were then compared between the groups.


RESULTS
The incidence of emergence agitation was lower in the desflurane group than in the sevoflurane group (24% vs. 71%, P < 0.001). In addition, the time intervals between the discontinuation of anaesthetics and the first response, extubation, and discharge from post-anaesthesia care unit were significantly shorter in the desflurane group (P = 0.002, P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). The other variables were similar in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In adults undergoing orthognathic surgery, desflurane anaesthesia was associated with less emergence agitation than was sevoflurane anaesthesia.
Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
G J
GJ
Choi
C W
CW
Baek
H
H
Kang
Y H
YH
Park
S Y
SY
Yang
H Y
HY
Shin
Y H
YH
Jung
Y C
YC
Woo
U L
UL
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077335:Desflurane; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D057909:Orthognathic Surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D055815:Young Adult
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane