[Rapidity of emergence from anesthesia with sevoflurane or isoflurane]

Sevoflurane, a new anesthetic agent recently introduced in Italy, is characterized by a low coefficient of distribution blood/gas that is associated both quick narcosis and fast emergence from anesthesia. Aim of this study is the comparison between two different anesthetic methods in patients submitted to general, gynecological and orthopedical surgical operations.

Thirty subjects randomized in two groups of fifteen patients each have been studied. In the first group (8 females, 7 males), sevoflurane as maintenance anesthetic was utilized; in the second group (5 females, 10 males), isoflurane was used. The final course of anesthesia were the same for both groups. ECG, FC, NIBP, FiO2, Paw, Spirometry, ETCO2, Fi-Alogenates, ET-Alogenates, MAC were monitored in all patients. In each group of patients the emergence time, extubation time, and dismission from operatory room were compared. Cardiocirculatory performance was evaluated monitoring arterial pressure and cardiac frequency in the same time of intubation and every 5 minutes following until extubation time.

The incidence of some postoperatory collateral effects was recorded too. The three emergence times showed a significative difference in favour of patients submitted to sevoflurane narcosis. Both groups of patients showed also appearance of nausea, vomiting and shived in similar way.

On the basis of the results obtained, the conclusion is drawn that sevoflurane is more rapidly eliminated than isoflurane, but both give a good cardiocirculatory performance.