Comparison of the effects of intravenous propofol and inhalational desflurane on the quality of early recovery after hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a prospective, randomised controlled trial

Randomized controlled trial of the effect of general anesthetics on postoperative recovery after minimally invasive nephrectomy

BACKGROUND

General anesthetic techniques can affect postoperative recovery. We compared the effect of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and desflurane anesthesia on postoperative recovery.

METHODS

In this randomized trial, 150 patients undergoing robot-assisted or laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal cancer were randomly allocated to either the TIVA or desflurane anesthesia (DES) group. Postoperative recovery was evaluated using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire (QoR-15K) at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was performed to analyze longitudinal QoR-15K data. Fentanyl consumption, pain severity, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and quality of life three weeks after discharge were also compared.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed for 70 patients in each group. The TIVA group showed significantly higher QoR-15K scores at 24 and 48 h postoperatively (24 h: DES, 96 [77, 109] vs. TIVA, 104 [82, 117], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.029; 48 h: 110 [95, 128] vs. 125 [109, 130], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.022), however not at 72 h (P = 0.400). The GEE revealed significant effects of group (adjusted mean difference 6.2, 95% CI: 0.39, 12.1, P = 0.037) and time (P < 0.001) on postoperative QoR-15K scores without group-time interaction (P = 0.051). However, there were no significant differences in other outcomes, except for fentanyl consumption, within the first 24 h postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol-based TIVA showed only a transient improvement in postoperative recovery than desflurane anesthesia, without significant differences in other outcomes.

Comparison of Postoperative Recovery between Balanced and Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB) Surgery: A Prospective, Single-Blind Randomized Study

Recovery after anesthesia has a significant impact on a patient's return to daily life. This study was performed to compare the postoperative quality of recovery according to the method of anesthesia administered among patients undergoing OPCAB using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40K) questionnaire. This single-blind, prospective study (trial number: KCT0004726) was performed using a population of 102 patients undergoing OPCAB under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups using a computer-generated list: a total intravenous anesthesia group (Group T) and a balanced anesthesia group (Group B). The QoR-40K score was measured preoperatively and at 24 and 48 h after extubation. There was no significant difference in the QoR-40K scores between the groups at 24 and 48 h after extubation. In addition, there were no significant differences between groups with respect to any of the five dimensions of QoR-40K at 24 and 48 h after extubation. Finally, there were no differences in the postoperative opioid consumption, time to extubation, or length of hospital stay. In this study, there was no difference in the QoR-40K score at 24 h after extubation between Groups T and B. Therefore, both methods of anesthesia are suitable for use when performing OPCAB.

Quality of recovery in patients administered remimazolam versus those administered an inhalant agent for the maintenance of general anesthesia: a randomized control trial

Background

Remimazolam is a novel intravenous benzodiazepine that is appropriate for the maintenance of anesthesia. Quality of recovery is an important component of health care quality, but there is no published randomized control trial focused on the quality of recovery in patients undergoing total intravenous anesthesia with remimazolam.

Methods

This parallel-group, single-blind randomized control trial at a tertiary care medical center in South Korea was conducted to determine the difference in the quality of recovery between the patients administered remimazolam and those administered an inhalant anesthetic agent. A total of 168 patients aged 19–65 years who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy or robotic gynecologic surgery were considered for enrollment. Randomization was performed using sealed envelopes containing computer-generated random allocation sequences.

Remimazolam was administered for the maintenance of anesthesia in the remimazolam group (Group R), and desflurane was administered in the desflurane group (Group D). The induction protocol and the target value of the bispectral index were identical in both groups. Patients were blinded to the drug that was administered until they finished the postoperative questionnaire.

The main outcome measure was the decrement of the QoR-40 score on postoperative day 1 compared to the QoR-40 score on the day before surgery.

Results

A total of 165 patients were analyzed. The preoperative and postoperative global QoR-40 scores were 183 and 152 (IQR 173–192 and 136–169), respectively. The perioperative decrement of the global QoR-40 score was 29.96 ± 22.49. The decrement of the QoR-40 score was smaller in Group R than in Group D (26.99 versus 32.90, respectively; mean difference 5.91, 95% confidence interval -0.96–12.79). After adjustment for sex, the type of surgery and surgical time, the administration of remimazolam resulted in a 7.03-point (95% CI 0.35–13.72) less decrement of the QoR-40 score than desflurane. There were no severe adverse events in either group.

Conclusion

Total intravenous anesthesia maintained with remimazolam provides a better quality of recovery than anesthesia maintained with an inhalant agent in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Additionally, postoperative nausea and vomiting were largely reduced with remimazolam.

Trial registration

KCT0006288, Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea

Registration date: 23/06/2021

Postoperative recovery: how and when is it assessed: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus about the type of instrument with which to assess postoperative recovery or the time points when assessments are most appropriate. It is also unclear whether instruments measure the four dimensions of postoperative recovery, that is physical, psychological, social, and habitual recovery. This scoping review had three objectives: (1) to identify and describe instruments used in clinical trials to assess postoperative recovery; (2) to determine how, when, and the number of times postoperative recovery was measured; and (3) to explore whether the four dimensions of postoperative recovery are represented in the identified instruments.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. The search terms were related to three search strands: postoperative recovery, instrument, and clinical trials. The limits were English language and publication January 2010 to November 2021. In total, 5015 studies were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 198 studies were included in the results. We identified 20 instruments measuring postoperative recovery. Different versions of Quality of Recovery represented 81.8% of the included instruments. Postoperative recovery was often assessed at one time point (47.2%) and most often on postoperative day 1 (81.5%). Thirteen instruments had items covering all four dimensions of postoperative recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessing recovery is important to evaluate and improve perioperative care. We emphasise the importance of choosing the right instrument for the concept studied and, if postoperative recovery is of interest, of assessing more than once. Ideally, instruments should include all four dimensions to cover the whole recovery process.

Effect of total intravenous anesthesia or inhalation anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) or sevoflurane-based inhalation anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

DESIGN

A prospective randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

An operating room, a postoperative recovery area, and a hospital ward.

PATIENTS

A total of 102 female patients scheduled for elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups: the propofol group (group P) or sevoflurane group (group S).

INTERVENTIONS

Anesthesia in group P was induced by propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium, and maintained by intravenous infusion of propofol and remifentanil. Anesthesia in group S was induced by a tidal volume inhalation technique with sevoflurane and rocuronium and maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil. Patients in group P did not receive any volatile drugs.

MEASUREMENTS

Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were assessed at 8, 24, 48, 72 h, 7 days and 30 days after surgery. Intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative inflammatory indicators and adverse reactions were also recorded.

MAIN RESULTS

The QoR-40 score and its 5 dimensions were similar in the two groups at each point in time (P > 0.05). Group S had less consumption of remifentanil (P < 0.001) but increased use of phenylephrine (P = 0.001) intraoperatively. PSQI scores were also comparable between groups at each point in time (P > 0.05). NRS scores at 72 h (P = 0.023) and 7 days (P = 0.017) after surgery, postoperative NLR (P = 0.024) and hs-CRP (P = 0.042), and the incidence of abdominal distension (P = 0.017) were significantly lower in group P than in group S. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that duration of pneumoperitoneum and sleep quality were associated with postoperative recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of intravenous or inhalation maintenance anesthesia did not affect overall postoperative recovery as measured by the QoR-40 in patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Reducing the duration of pneumoperitoneum and improving sleep quality were conducive to postoperative recovery.