Effect of total intravenous anaesthesia and balanced anaesthesia on the frequency of coughing during emergence from the anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND The effects of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and balanced anaesthesia (BAL) on coughing during emergence from the general anaesthesia have not yet been compared. METHODS Fifty patients, aged 18-60 yr, undergoing elective lumbar disk surgery were randomly allocated to undergo TIVA (propofol-remifentanil) or BAL (fentanyl-nitrous oxide-sevoflurane). Extubation was performed in the knee-elbow position, documented on video, and subsequently evaluated by blinded examiners. RESULTS There was no difference between TIVA and BAL patients with respect to patient characteristics, proportion of smokers, surgical time, or time of emergence. The median number of coughs was significantly lower in the TIVA group (1, range 0-9) than in the BAL group (4, range 0-20, P = 0.007). Mean maximal heart rate and mean maximal arterial pressure measured during emergence were also significantly lower in the TIVA group (P = 0.009 and P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS During emergence from anaesthesia in the knee-elbow position, TIVA is associated with significantly less coughing and reduced haemodynamic response when compared with BAL.