Comparison of eltanolone and propofol in anesthesia for termination of pregnancy

A randomized study was designed to compare eltanolone (pregnanolone) and propofol anesthesia in 60 unpremedicated women undergoing outpatient termination of pregnancy. The initial doses for induction of anesthesia were 0.8 mg/kg for eltanolone and 2 mg/kg for propofol followed by an additional 25% increment if necessary. The doses required for successful induction were 0.82 +/- 0.06 and 2.1 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SD) mg/kg for eltanolone and propofol, respectively. Discomfort or pain on injection occurred in none of the patients given eltanolone and in 20% of those receiving propofol (P < 0.05). To maintain satisfactory anesthesia, 29% of the patients given eltanolone and 70% of the patients given propofol needed extra bolus doses of the study drug (P < 0.01). Excitation (twitching of extremities or slight hypertonus) occurred in 29% of the patients in the eltanolone group compared to none in the propofol group (P < 0.05). Both clinical (opening eyes, orientation, walking, tolerating oral fluids, voiding) and psychomotor recovery (Maddox Wing test and Digit Symbol Substitution test) returned to baseline more slowly after eltanolone than after propofol. Overall home readiness was achieved later in the eltanolone group [median 57 min (range 41-190 min)] compared to the propofol [37 (32-100 min)] group. We conclude that recovery from anesthesia is more rapid from propofol as compared to eltanolone anesthesia.