[Delayed emergence from propofol, nitrous oxide and oxygen anesthesia--a case report]

We report a case of delayed recovery after the termination of propofol and nitrous oxide anesthesia. On the preoperative examination hepatic dysfunction (Indocyanine green (ICG) plasma retention rate at 15 minutes of 22%) was pointed out. Anesthesia was maintained with epidural block, nitrous oxide, oxygen and propofol. Average infusion rate of propofol was 5-6 mg.kg-1.h-1. Although at the end of the operation, the propofol infusion and nitrous oxide were stopped simultaneously, 59 minutes were necessary before the emergence from anesthesia. We consider that an average infusion rate of propofol should be decelerated in a case of ICG clearance time elongation.