Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
An Investigation Into Quality of Recovery After General Anesthesia With Isoflurane and Propofol in Patients
Shahram Seyfi1, Hakimeh Alereza Amiri2, Nadia Banihashem2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
The quality of postanesthesia recovery is among the important issues of general anesthesia that affect the patient's ability to perform daily activities. This study hence aimed to investigate the effects of general anesthesia with isoflurane and propofol on the quality of recovery (QoR) in patients undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy.
Methods:
This clinical trial was conducted on 80 women aged 30-65 years who visited Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital of Babol for an elective abdominal hysterectomy in 2020. Based on a randomized block design (4 blocks of 20), the participants were equally assigned to two groups of propofol (P) and isoflurane (I). The QoR-15 scale was employed to measure the QoR in terms of physical and mental dimensions, as primary outcomes, and duration of anesthesia, duration of surgery, response time, quality of extubation, changes in blood pressure and heart rate, length of stay in the recovery unit, Aldrete score, pain score, and prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), as secondary outcomes.
Results:
The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative physical and mental changes (P = 0.142), except for the second night after surgery (P = 0.001). The QoR, both physically and mentally, significantly changed in both groups over time (P < 0.05). The results also indicated that response time (P < 0.001), quality of extubation (P = 0.01), prevalence of PONV (P = 0.001), and increase in blood pressure (P = 0.02) were significantly lower in the propofol group (P) than in the isoflurane group (I). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the length of stay in the recovery unit (P = 0.44), pre-discharge Aldrete score (P = 0.31), pain score (P = 0.18), duration of anesthesia (P = 0.30), duration of surgery (P = 0.64), and heart rate (P = 0.30).
Conclusions:
Propofol outperformed isoflurane in terms of response time, quality of extubation, prevalence of PONV, and increase in blood pressure. In addition, the physical and mental QoR on the second night after surgery was higher in patients anesthetized with propofol compared to those anesthetized with isoflurane.
Related Concept Videos
Stages of General Anesthesia
General Anesthesia: Overview
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...

