Recovery after remifentanil-desflurane or remifentanil-sevoflurane anaesthesia for intracranial tumour surgery

Background and Goal of Study: The pharmacology of remifentanil and desflurane suggests that recovery will be faster if used in combination compared to remifentanil/sevoflurane anaesthesia[1,2]. This could be important after prolonged anaesthesia for craniotomy for tumour where slow recovery of mental function is a concern. We compared emergence from the remifentanil/desfluranevs remifentanil/sevoflurane anaesthesia in patients undergoing craniotomy for tumour. Materials and Methods: 20 patients undergoing anaesthesia for elective craniotomy for tumour were randomly assigned to receive remifentanil/desflurane or remifentanil/sevoflurane anaesthesia. Recovery times were recorded. Results and Discussions: Recovery measurements (min:mean (standard deviation)).TableConclusion(s): Recovery of patients undergoing craniotomy for tumour is significantly faster after remifentanil/desflurane compared to remifentanil/sevoflurane anaesthesia allowing earlier neurological examination.