Effect of aminophylline or physostigmine on recovery from nitrous oxide‐enflurane anaesthesia

Abstract

If facilities for recovery are limited, shortening the recovery time from general anaesthesia is important. A comparative study on the effect of 3 mg.kg-1 aminophylline or 0.04 mg.kg-1 physostigmine on duration and quality of the recovery time from nitrous oxide-enflurane anaesthesia is presented. Three groups of 35 patients were observed, placebo being included for comparison in this double-blind study. Without treatment, recovery from nitrous oxide-enflurane inhalation anaesthesia lasted 18.8 +/- 5.80 min. Aminophylline considerably shortened the recovery time (12.06 +/- 3.52 min), whereas physostigmine did not (18.97 +/- 9.18 min). In the physostigmine group, however, a remarkably calm recovery and early return of protective reflexes was observed. Although aminophylline shortens the recovery time, due to earlier incidence of pain and other disturbances, it cannot be recommended for general improvement of recovery, whereas physostigmine clearly improves the quality of recovery from nitrous oxide-enflurane anaesthesia.

The effects of aminophylline on bispectral index during inhalational and total intravenous anaesthesia*

“…Aminophylline is usually used in anaesthetic practice to treat bronchospasm [1, 2] and in preterm neonates to decrease the incidence of postoperative apnoea [3, 4]. However, empirical evidence suggests that aminophylline given at the end of surgery shortens recovery time from general anaesthesia and improves the quality of recovery [5–9]. Furthermore, aminophylline has been shown to decrease the depth and duration of sedation produced by barbiturates [10], diazepam [11–13], midazolam [14] and propofol [15].…”

Effects of aminophylline on cognitive recovery after sevoflurane anesthesia

“…In the present study, escalating doses of aminophylline both significantly increased the entropy values and shortened the recovery times. Similarly, several other studies reported higher Bispectral Index values and faster recovery after intravenous aminophylline administration [6][7][8][9]19].…”