INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA WITH PROPOFOL OR INHALATIONAL ANESTHESIA WITH ISOFLURANE FOR MAJOR ABDOMINAL-SURGERY

Tow hundred and ten adult patients undergoing ope cholecystectomy, vag otomy or gastrectomy were included in a randomised multicentre study t o compare postoperative nausea and vomiting, oxygen saturations for th e first three postoperative nights, time to return of gastrointestinal function, mobilisation, and discharge from the hospital following ind uction and maintenance of anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil or with thiopentone, nitrous oxide, isoflurane and alfentanil. Recovery f rom anaesthesia was significantly faster in the propofol group (mean ( SD) times to eye opening and giving correct date of birth of 14.0 (SD 13.8) and 25.5 (SD 29.5) minutes, and 18.5 (SD 14.8) and 35.5 (SD 37.2 ) minutes in the propofol and isoflurane groups respectively). There w as significantly less nausea in the propofol group (15.4%) than in the isoflurane group (33.7%) in the first two postoperative hours (p<0.00 3) but not thereafter. There were no significant differences between t he groups in any other recovery characteristics. The incidence of hypo xaemia (arterial oxygen saturation less than 93%) was close to 70% in both groups for the first three postoperative nights, indicating the n eed for oxygen therapy after major abdominal surgery.