COMPARISON OF ELTANOLONE AND PROPOFOL IN ANESTHESIA FOR TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

A randomized study was designed to compare eltanolone (pregnanolone) a nd propofol anesthesia in 60 unpremedicated women undergoing outpatien t termination of pregnancy. The initial doses for induction of anesthe sia were 0.8 mg/kg for eltanolone and 2 mg/kg for propofol followed by an additional 25% increment if necessary. The doses required for succ essful induction were 0.82 +/- 0.06 and 2.1 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SD) mg/k g for eltanolone and propofol, respectively. Discomfort or pain on inj ection occurred in none of the patients given eltanolone and in 20% of those receiving propofol (P < 0.05). To maintain satisfactory anesthe sia, 29% of the patients given eltanolone and 70% of the patients give n propofol needed extra bolus doses of the study drug (P < 0.01). Exci tation (twitching of extremities or slight hypertonus) occurred in 29% of the patients in the eltanolone group compared to none in the propo fol group (P < 0.05). Both clinical (opening eyes, orientation, walkin g, tolerating oral fluids, voiding) and psychomotor recovery (Maddox W ing test and Digit Symbol Substitution test) returned to baseline more slowly after eltanolone than after propofol. Overall home readiness w as achieved later in the eltanolone group [median 57 min (range 41-190 min)] compared to the propofol [37 (32-100 min)] group. We conclude t hat recovery from anesthesia is more rapid from propofol as compared t o eltanolone anesthesia.