Doxapram and aminophylline on bispectral index under sevoflurane anaesthesia: a comparative study

To evaluate and compare the effect of two clinically available central nervous system stimulants, namely doxapram and aminophylline on arousal from sevoflurane anaesthesia and bispectral index.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective study was conducted in 90 adult females, ASA I-II, scheduled for elective lower abdominal surgeries at Taipei Medical University Hospital. At 5 min before the completion of surgery, under sevoflurane anaesthesia, patients were divided into three groups to receive doxapram 1 mg kg(-1), aminophylline 2 mg kg(-1) or saline placebo intravenous. Standard vital signs, end-tidal CO(2), end-expiratory sevoflurane concentration, bispectral index and neuromuscular blockade were measured plus clinical parameters of recovery from general anaesthesia.

Compared with the control group, patients receiving doxapram or aminophylline showed a similarly faster recovery from sevoflurane anaesthesia correlated with increase in bispectral index.

Intravenous administration of doxapram 1 mg kg(-1) or aminophylline 2 mg kg(-1) hastened the early recovery from sevoflurane anaesthesia. The arousal effect of aminophylline and doxapram appears to be similar.