A Comparative Analysis between Desflurane and Propofol as Single Agent Anesthesia

Background: There is an ongoing quest to know which agent is the best for induction as well as maintenance of anesthesia. Desflurane is known to have a rapid onset and offset of action, thereby making it possible for the anesthetist to control the depth of anesthesia rapidly. Intravenous propofol with raid induction and recovery is currently a popular induction agent for surgical anesthesia. The present study was thus carried out to compare desflurane and propofol as single agent anesthesia in short elective surgeries. Materials and methods: In this hospital based prospective comparative study, 60 patients scheduled for elective short surgery were taken. After routine pre-anesthetic work up, patients were induced with either Group D: O2:N2O (50:50) + Desflurane 3-4% or; Group P: O2:N20 (50:50) + Propofol 3-5 mg/kg. Baseline parameters, relevant intra-op details, ease of procedure, hemodynamic changes, recovery, and complication rate were compared between both groups. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS ver. 21. Results: Baseline variables and other parameters like jaw opening, attempts for LMA and ease of insertion was comparable in both the groups (p> 0.05). Time to loss of consciousness and time to LMA insertion was significantly shorter with Propofol (p<0.05). Mean pulse rate and MAP was significantly higher in Desflurane group (p< 0.05). The Bispectral Index value and RASS score were comparable in both groups after 2 min. and 40 min. respectively. Modified Aldrete score was significantly higher in Desflurane group while Complication rate was comparable. Conclusion: Inhaled desflurane provided acceptable conditions for LMA insertion and the intra-operative hemodynamic profile during anesthesia was stable. Desflurane can be considered as an alternative induction agent when inhalational induction is required; bearing in mind that caution still needs to be exercised when desflurane is used in this manner.