Recovery after anesthesia with remifentanil combined with propofol, desflurane, or sevoflurane for otorhinolaryngeal surgery

Because no previous investigation has directly compared the combination of remifentanil (REM) and a hypnotic with that of REM and the newer volatile anesthetics, we studied recovery characteristics and patient satisfaction after the combination of REM with propofol (PRO), desflurane (DES), or sevoflurane (SEVO). One hundred twenty patients were randomly assigned to receive anesthesia with either REM/PRO, REM/DES, REM/SEVO, or thiopental/alfentanil/isoflurane/N2O (control group) for ear, nose, and throat surgery (n = 30 each). In the REM groups, the dosage of PRO (75 mu g . kg(-1) . min(-1)), and of DES or SEVO (0.5 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration) was kept unchanged, and REM was titrated to hemodynamic response. The control group was managed according to standard practice. Early recovery (times to eye opening, extubation, and statement of name and date of birth) was predictably faster and more complete in the REM groups compared with the control group. However, late recovery (times to discharge from postanesthesia care unit and hospital) and overall patient satisfaction were not different among groups. No clinically relevant differences existed among the three REM groups. In conclusion, the combination of REM infusion with small-dose DES, SEVO, or PRO is characterized by predictably rapid, early recovery. However, late recovery and patient satisfaction are comparable to a conventional anesthetic technique.