[Recovery, amnesia and affective state following propofol in comparison with thiopental]

Numerous reports have described a definite sense of well-being after anesthesia with propofol (Disoprivan). The present study was designed to assess postoperative mood as recorded with a quantitative self-rating method. Postoperative recovery and amnesia were also investigated. Thirty unpremedicated female patients aged 20-60 (ASA grade 1 or 2) who were scheduled for minor gynecological operations were enrolled in the study after informed consent. The patients were randomly allocated to three study groups: group A, induction with propofol 2 mg/kg and maintenance with propofol 0.15 mg/kg per min together with N2O/O2; group B, induction with propofol 2 mg/kg and maintenance with enfluran and N2O/O2; group C, induction with thiopental until loss of the eye lash reflex and maintenance with enfluran and N2O/O2. Postoperative amnesia was assessed by showing five picture cards at 5-min intervals, starting when the patients were able to state the correct date of birth. A test of recovery (p-deletion) was carried out after 30 and again after 60 min. The postoperative mood state was evaluated with the adjective checklist of Janke and Debus 5 h after waking. In good agreement with published reports, propofol patients recovered more rapidly than thiopental patients. A significant but irrelevant amnesia occurred after 5 min in group B. However, in some cases amnesia lasting up to 20 min was observed. The global mood status showed a significantly higher score for positive items and a lower score for negative items after propofol administered by either technique than after thiopental (P = 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)