title: Length of postanesthetic care unit stay in elderly patients after general anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial comparing desflurane and sevoflurane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the length of postanesthetic care unit (PACU) stay and recovery profiles of elderly patients after general anesthesia between sevoflurane and desflurane.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care hospital, university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty elderly patients undergoing nonemergency surgery under general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups: sevoflurane group (n = 38) and desflurane group (n = 42) in a double-blind manner. All of the patients underwent general anesthesia with oral endotracheal intubation using the same induction, muscle relaxants, and narcotics medication. When the operation was finished, the volatile agent was discontinued and muscle relaxation was reversed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The length of PACU stay was recorded as the primary outcome. The recovery profiles (time to open eyes, time to follow to commands, and time to extubation) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significance between the groups in age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, type of surgery, duration of anesthesia, perioperative use of fentanyl, or blood loss. The length of PACU stay was not significantly different in the patients who recovered from sevoflurane (49.4 ± 23.1 minutes) or desflurane (50.1 ± 25.8 minutes) general anesthesia. Desflurane was significantly associated with faster early recovery than sevoflurane measured by time to open eyes (7.5 ± 3.4 vs 9.6 ± 4.6 minutes) and time to follow commands (9.0 ± 3.3 vs 11.2 ± 5.1 minutes), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desflurane was more associated with a faster early recovery (time to open the eyes and follow commands) than sevoflurane in elderly patients after general anesthesia. However, the length of PACU stay was similar in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. Electronic address: pakpirom013@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jatuporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pakpirom
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jitsinee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraithep
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ngamjit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pattaravit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000077335:Desflurane; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane
keywords: Desflurane; Elderly; PACU stay; Sevoflurane