The Effect on the Recovery Profile of a Change from Enflurane to Desflurane during the Latter Part of Anaesthesia

Abstract

This study compared emergence and recovery characteristics after either enflurane anaesthesia or crossover from enflurane to desflurane anaesthesia. At an estimated 1 h prior to the end of operation, enflurane was either reduced (group E, n = 23) or replaced with desflurane (group X, n = 23). At the end of the operation, emergence and recovery characteristics of the two groups were compared. The crossover technique accelerated recovery compared with enflurane anaesthesia. The time taken for the eyes to open in response to painful pinching or a verbal command, and to regain awareness of age and name, were significantly shorter after crossover anaesthesia than after enflurane anaesthesia. The digit symbol substitution test and serial seven test scores were significantly better in patients subjected to crossover anaesthesia than in those subjected to enflurane anaesthesia. We conclude that, during surgery, the substitution of enflurane with desflurane in the latter part of anaesthesia can improve recovery.

Effects of changing from sevoflurane to desflurane on the recovery profile after sevoflurane induction: a randomized controlled study

“…Several studies have investigated the effects of changing from isoflurane to desflurane during the latter part of anesthesia, [19][20][21] and Kang et al have reported that changing from enflurane to desflurane effectively improved recovery from general anesthesia. 22 Nevertheless, few studies have reported the advantages of changing from sevoflurane to desflurane. In the present study, none of the patients experienced severe adverse events during volatile induction, and changing from Data are expressed as means (SD) or difference (95% CI).…”