The effect of aminophylline on the recovery profile after hysterectomy: A randomized controlled double-blinded study

In anesthesia practice, aminophylline is clinically used to treat bronchospasm. However, due to its antagonistic effect on adenosine, studies have recently focused on the drug's ability to enhance the recovery profile. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the administration of aminophylline leads to better recovery after general anesthesia in hysterectomy.

This randomized controlled double-blinded study, was conducted at Alzahra academic hospital in Guilan, Iran. During December 2022 to March 2023, 70 eligible women scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy were divided into two groups. Group A: received 3 mg/kg IV aminophylline diluted in 100 mL of normal saline and Group C: received 100 mL IV normal saline. The time to recovery of consciousness, tracheal extubation and discharge from post anesthesia care unit were recorded. In addition, heart rate, and mean arterial blood pressure were measured at 10 point times including; baseline (T0), immediately before the administration of aminophylline (T1), every 5 min until the end of the surgery(T2,T3,T4,T5,T6), and every 15 min in PACU(T7,T8,T9).

There was no significant difference in terms of demographic data between the study groups. Comparing the two groups, the time of ROC was shorter in Group A than group C; 5.95 ± 1.12 and 8.5 ± 1.77 for Groups A and C, respectively (p < 0.001). The extubation time was shorter in Group A than group C; 7.79 ± 1.48 and 10.55 ± 3.02, for Groups A and C, respectively (p < 0.001). In addition, the discharge time was also shorter in group A than Group C; 30.17 ± 5.24 and 37.57 ± 4.41 for Groups A and C, respectively (p < 0.001). Not serious side effects were reported among 71.4% of cases in Group A and 51.4% in Group C (p = 0.086).

Administration of aminophylline at a dose of 3 mg/kg IV improves the recovery profile after abdominal hysterectomy without serious adverse effects.