Total intravenous anesthesia versus inhalational anesthesiafor radiofrequency ablation of hepatic focal lesions:a comparative study

Background The aim of this study was to assess whether total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) offers an alternative anesthetic technique to inhalational anesthesia for patients undergoing radiofrequency (RF) ablation for hepatic focal lesions.Patients and methodsA total of 100 American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status II patients were included and divided into two groups: the first group underwent RF ablation of hepatic focal lesions under sevoflurane inhalational anesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway applied, whereas the second group was under TIVA with propofol infusion and face mask was applied. The hemodynamic changes, as well as the changes in Spo , were recorded during the procedure and in the recovery room. The time to speak and the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the recovery room were also recorded.ResultsThe two groups were comparable as regards the changes in arterial blood pressure values from the baseline. The TIVA group showed reductions in Spo values after propofol loading, which was corrected with the application of an oropharyngeal airway. The time to speak was longer in the TIVA group than in the sevoflurane group, but it did not prolong the time of discharge from the postanesthesia care unit. The sevoflurane group showed higher incidence of PONV in the recovery room.ConclusionTIVA with propofol infusion offers an alternative anesthetic technique for RF ablation of hepatic focal lesions with the advantages of hemodynamic stability, avoiding instrumentation of the airway in a day-case patient without the development of PONV with the same technical successoffered by sevoflurane anesthesia.