A Comparison of Desflurane Versus Propofol

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the influence of propofol versus desflurane anesthesia in overweight patients on postoperative lung function and pulse oximetry values. We prospectively studied 134 patients with body mass indices of 25 to 35 kg/m(2) undergoing minor peripheral surgery lasting 40 to 120 minutes. Patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol (total IV anesthesia) or desflurane anesthesia via a tracheal tube targeting bispectral index values of 40 to 60. Premedication, adjuvant drug usage, and ventilation were standardized. We measured oxyhemoglobin saturation and lung function preoperatively (baseline), and at 10 minutes, 0.5 hour, 2 hours, and 24 hours after tracheal extubation. All values were measured with the patient supine, in a 30° head-up position. Changes from preoperative baseline values were first analyzed for the impact of body mass index and type of anesthesia using univariate methods, followed by linear regression and multivariate analysis of variance. Within the first 2 hours after surgery, the propofol group displayed lower oxyhemoglobin saturation (at 2 hours, mean ± SD, 93.8% ± 2.0% vs 94.6% ± 2.1%; P < 0.007) and lung function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume exhaled in 1 second [FEV(1)], peak expiratory flow, midexpiratory flow [MEF], forced inspiratory vital capacity, and peak inspiratory flow; between 11% and 20% larger reduction from baseline in the propofol group, all P < 0.001) compared with the desflurane group. Even 24 hours after surgery, FEV(1), peak expiratory flow, MEF, forced inspiratory vital capacity, and peak inspiratory flow were reduced more in the propofol group (all P < 0.01). At 2 hours after extubation, increasing obesity was associated with decreasing FEV(1) and MEF in patients anesthetized with propofol but not desflurane (P < 0.01). We conclude that, for superficial surgical procedures of up to 120 minutes, maintenance of anesthesia with propofol impairs early postoperative lung function and pulse oximetry values more than with desflurane. Furthermore, increasing obesity decreases pulmonary function at 2 hours after propofol anesthesia but not after desflurane anesthesia.