Propofol versus thiopental sodium as anaesthetic agents for oocyte retrieval: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Clinical outcomes of IVF cycles using propofol or thiopental sodium as anaesthetic agents for oocyte retrieval were compared. The primary outcome measure was fertilization rate per patient. One hundred and eighty patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists for IVF were randomized to receive either propofol (n = 90) or thiopental sodium (n = 90). No significant differences in baseline characteristics were present between the two groups. Overall fertilization rates were similar between propofol and thiopental sodium groups, respectively: median (IQR): 54.8 (29.2) versus 54.6 (29.7); fertilization rates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection only: median (IQR): 70 (50) versus 75 (50), respectively. For secondary outcome measures, time under anaesthesia was significantly increased in the thiopental sodium group: median (IQR): 12(5) versus 10 (4.5) min, P = 0.019 compared with the propofol group. Number of cumulus oocyte complexes retrieved [median (IQR): 7.1 (6.3) versus 6.5 (5.6)] did not differ significantly between the two groups. A non-significant difference in live birth rates per randomized patient of +4.4% (95% CI: -5.7 to +14.6) in favour of propofol was observed. Use of propofol compared with thiopental sodium for general anaesthesia during oocyte retrieval results in similar fertilization rates and IVF outcomes.

Effects and safety of propofol intravenous anesthesia in transvaginal oocyte retrieval on outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation

“…However, no detrimental effects of propofol on fertilization and the quality of embryos were detected in humans [20]. In the present study, the fertilization rate was similar between the propofol and the control groups, consistent with the previous study [11,21].…”

“…Unexpectedly, the number of oocytes retrieved, number of normally fertilized oocytes, number of D3 highquality embryos, and number of frozen embryos in the propofol group were all higher than that in the control group. It seems that propofol used in oocyte retrieval was bene cial and harmless to IVF-ET, while a previous study showed no difference in the embryo quality between patients who received propofol or other anesthesia [21]. However, the limitation of this study is that patients without anesthesia were not included and analyzed.…”