Comparison of the Effect of Inhalational Isoflurane-Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia and Intravenous Propofol-Remifentanil Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain

The severity of postoperative pain varies widely in the different types of anesthesia. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia on postoperative pain after foot and ankle surgery.

In this double-blind clinical trial, 60 eligible patients were divided into two equal intervention and control groups; the first group inhaled anesthesia with isoflurane-nitrous oxide and the control group were given intravenous anesthesia with propofol-remifentanil using the quadruple random block model and postoperative pain intensity was measured and compared in the two groups. Data on pain severity were collected at different times and analyzed using SPSS statistical software and related tests. The significant level was set at 0.05.

Of the 60 participants, 38 (52.4%) were male and 22 (47.6%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 33.9±15.1 years. The intensity of pain in the recovery room and up to 4 hours after surgery was significantly (Pvalue<0.001) lower in the intervention group but after 4 hours there was no significant difference between the two groups. So, it can be seen in the present study that there was a significant decrease (Pvalue<0.036) in the number of cases requiring analgesics prescribed in the recovery room and up to 4 hours after surgery in the intervention group.

According to the results, evaporation anesthetic isoflurane-nitrous oxide can be used in the stage of induction of anesthesia in orthopedic surgeries, and has achieved good results in reducing pain, especially during the first 4 hours, postoperative.Key Words: Isoflurane, Propofol, Inhaler Anesthesia, IV Anesthesia, Postoperative Pain