Comparison of the Effects of Target-Controlled Versus Conventional Infusion Sedation on Recovery in Geriatric...

Procedural sedation management in geriatric patients undergoing cystoscopy requires careful monitoring due to age-related physiological changes and increased sensitivity to anaesthetic agents. Although both target-controlled infusion (TCI) and conventional total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) techniques with propofol are commonly used methods for sedation, their comparative effectiveness and safety in this population remain subjects of ongoing investigation. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the two techniques in terms of time to induction, recovery time, hemodynamic stability, airway intervention requirements, and propofol consumption.

This prospective, randomized study enrolled 60 male patients aged 65 years and older who were scheduled to undergo elective cystoscopy. Participants were randomly assigned to either the TCI group (n = 30) or the TIVA group (n = 30). The two groups were compared in terms of induction time, recovery time, hemodynamic parameters, airway interventions, and total propofol consumption.

Compared with the TCI group, the TIVA group presented significantly shorter induction-to-surgery initiation and recovery times (P=0.009 and P=0.016, respectively). However, systolic blood pressure was more stable in the TCI group compared to the TIVA group (P=0.014). Propofol consumption per unit time was greater in the TIVA group (P=0.048), although total propofol usage did not differ significantly. Airway intervention was more common in the TIVA group, particularly in the early phase; however, this difference was not significant.

Both TCI and TIVA are effective sedation techniques for geriatric cystoscopy. While TIVA provides faster induction and recovery, TCI offers better hemodynamic stability and may reduce propofol requirements. Further studies are recommended to confirm these findings in broader patient populations.