Comparison of assisted reproductive technology performance after oocyte retrieval under general anaesthesia (propofol) versus paracervical local anaesthetic black: a case-controlled study

Propofol (Dipirivan(R)) is an intravenous anaesthetic drug used for general anaesthesia, Although frequently used as a general anaesthetic for ultraso und procedures, its use during transvaginal oocyte retrieval is currently b eing debated. A total of 202 patients undergoing fertility treatment was in cluded in a prospective, matched, controlled study, in which we compared fe rtilization rates and embryo development in terms of morphological quality and speed of development and the implications for reproductive outcome and pregnancy following general anaesthesia using either propofol or a paracerv ical local anaesthetic block during oocyte collection. There were no differ ences between the fertilization rates and the embryo cleavage characteristi cs for the two groups. The initial implantation rate per transferred embryo after general anaesthesia was similar to that after paracervical local ana esthetic block (13.4 versus 18.6%; P = 0.10), The ongoing clinical implanta tion rates per embryo transferred were also similar in the two groups.