PROPOFOL AND THIOPENTAL ANESTHESIA - A COMPARISON OF THE INCIDENCE OFDREAMS AND PERIOPERATIVE MOOD ALTERATIONS

The purpose of this study was to investigate perioperative mood profil es and the incidence of dreams in patients receiving anesthesia with e ither propofol (n = 29) or thiopental (n = 27) in combination with nit rous oxide. The study was a prospective, randomized, and double-blind investigation of female patients undergoing outpatient dilation and cu rettage. Recall of dreams was assessed 1 h postoperatively and the fol lowing day by using a questionnaire designed for surgical patients. Mo od profiles were quantified using the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R), a self-administered questionnaire which was co mpleted preoperatively and 1 h postoperatively. Our results indicate t hat postoperatively, all patients were significantly less anxious than preoperatively (P < 0.0001). In the postoperative period, patients re ceiving propofol exhibited sensation-seeking tendencies (i.e., active, adventurous, aggressive, daring, energetic, enthusiastic, merry) when compared to the thiopental patients (P < 0.02). The incidence of drea ms was small and equal in both groups. We conclude that patients anest hetized with propofol and nitrous oxide, as compared to patients anest hetized with thiopental and nitrous oxide, were more likely to demonst rate adventurous tendencies in the postoperative period.