[Emergence times, hemodynamics and adverse effects of sevoflurane and isoflurane: an open, randomized, comparative...

Sevoflurane is a "new" volatile inhaled anaesthetic that is currently undergoing phase III clinical trial in Europe and the United States. Owing to the low blood solubility, rapid induction of anaesthesia and emergence from anaesthesia would be expected. In this study, we compared emergence times and haemodynamics in patients receiving either sevoflurane or isoflurane. Furthermore, all adverse effects were recorded and the relationship to the drug administered was rated. METHODS. Fifty ASA physical status I and II patients were studied in an open, prospective, randomised clinical trial. Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl, thiopentone, and vecuronium for facilitating endotracheal intubation and maintained with sevoflurane or isoflurane, 60% nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen (O2), and additional doses of fentanyl (1-2 micrograms/kg.h). The electrocardiogram, blood pressure (non-invasive), O2 saturation, temperature, and end-tidal concentrations of sevoflurane or isoflurane, N2O, and carbon dioxide were monitored continuously. At the end of surgery, administration of sevoflurane or isoflurane and N2O was discontinued without tapering and emergence times were recorded. All adverse events that occurred until the 3rd postoperative day were recorded and the relationship to the inhaled anaesthetic was rated as "none", "unlikely", "possible", "probable", or "highly probable". RESULTS. With the exception of gender, the two patient groups were comparable (Tables 1 and 2). Due to the higher MAC value, mean end-tidal concentrations were higher for sevoflurane (0.82% vs. 0.59% for isoflurane). The duration of anaesthetic exposure was 1.3 MAC h (calculation with FIO2 = 1.0 MAC value) and 3.1 MAC h (calculation with FIO2 = 0.4 in N2O MAC value), respectively, for both inhaled anaesthetics. Pulmonary elimination was faster (Fig. 1) and emergence time shorter (7 min vs. 11.5 min, Table 3) with sevoflurane. There was no difference in the time courses of heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure (Figs. 2 and 3). No adverse effects with a "probable" or "highly probable" relationship to the inhaled anaesthetic were observed. Table 4 shows the adverse events with a possible relationship to the drug administered. Further evaluations of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are shown in Table 5. DISCUSSION. Emergence time after inhalation anaesthesia depends on pulmonary elimination and MACawake, that is, the end-tidal concentration that would allow opening of the eyes on verbal command. Pulmonary elimination depends on dose applied (MAC h), alveolar ventilation, and blood-gas solubility coefficient. Due to the lower blood-gas solubility coefficient (0.6-0.7 for sevoflurane vs. 1.3-1.4 for isoflurane) and in accordance with the investigations of Frink et al. [4] and Smith et al. [16], emergence time was significantly shorter with sevoflurane. Gender, the only difference between the two patient groups, does not influence pulmonary elimination and MACawake [8]. Supplementing inhalation anaesthesia with fentanyl, there was no difference in the time courses of heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure between sevoflurane and isoflurane. Adverse events with a possible relationship to the inhaled anaesthetic occurred in both groups.