Hypnosedation: a new anesthesia technique for cervical endocrine surgery. A prospective randomized study.

Retrospective studies have confirmed the feasibility and safety of thyroid and parathyroid procedures performed under hypnoanesthesia (hypnosis, local anesthesia and minimal conscious sedation) as sole method of anesthesia. T his very effective technique seems to provide physiological, psychological and economic benefits for the patient. Study aim: To assess, by means of a prospective randomized study, the advan tages of hypnosedation as an alternative to general anesthesia in terms of clinical and laboratory parameters. Patients and methods: Twenty patients operated under hypnoanesthesia were c ompared to 20 patients operated under conventional anesthesia. The two grou ps were compared in terms of inflammatory, neuroendocrine, hemodynamic and immunologic parameters and postoperative course (pain, fatigue, muscle stre ngth and stress). Results: No clinical or demographic differences were observed between the t wo groups. Operative times, bleeding, weight of specimens, and surgical com fort were similar. Significant differences in terms of inflammatory respons e and hemodynamic parameters were observed in favor of hypnoanesthesia. Neu roendocrine and immunological parameters were similar. Patients of the hypn oanesthesia group had significantly less postoperative pain. Postoperative fatigue syndrome and convalescence were significantly improved in these pat ients. Conclusion: This study confirms that, in our hands, hypnosedation presents real advantages over general anesthesia, in patients undergoing thyroid sur gery. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.