[Emergence and postoperative course after anesthesia with sevoflurane versus propofol]

To compare the postoperative period, with particular regard to occurrence of adverse effects at the time of emergence from anaesthesia, recovery parameters, any post-surgical analgesia requirements and laboratory tests changes in 80 ASA I and II patients undergoing sevoflurane or propofol anaesthesia for elective extracavity surgery.

A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: in the first group, thiopentone was administered for induction of anaesthesia and sevoflurane for maintenance; the second group received propofol either for induction of anaesthesia and maintenance. All patients received vecuronium for neuromuscular blockade and fentanyl as needed. At the end of surgery, the occurrence of adverse effects, recovery parameters, time of discharge from recovery area, any post-surgical analgesia requirements, time of walking resumption and any laboratory tests changes were recorded.

In the sevoflurane group times of discharges from recovery area were significantly faster. In both groups total bilirubin increase was recorded until 72 hours after the end of anaesthesia.

Significant differences of postoperative adverse effects and laboratory tests changes were not recorded in both groups of anaesthetics.