A Comparison Between Inhalational (Desflurane) and Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (Propofol and Dexmedetomidine) in Improving Postoperative Recovery for Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Double-blinded Randomised...

Study Objective: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is commonly performed under total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) or balanced anaesthesia using an intravenous and inhalation agent. It is still unclear which anaesthesia regimen is better for this group of patients. The present study has been conducted to compare the use of the inhalation anaesthesia technique using desflurane with the TIVA technique, using propofol and dexmedetomidine.

Design: Prospective, randomised, double-blinded study.

Setting: Menoufia Univeristy Hospital.

Patients: This randomised trial was carried out on 100 morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The patients were randomised into two equally sized groups; one group received the inhalation anaesthesia technique and the other received the TIVA technique.

Interventions: All patients received general anaesthesia, which was induced by propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium. Anaesthesia was maintained using desflurane in oxygen air mixture in the inhalation group, whilst anaesthesia was maintained by intravenous infusion of propofol and dexmedetomidine in the TIVA group.

Measurements: Intra-operative vital signs, anaesthesia recovery time, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain score, post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay time, total first 24h post-operative analgesic needs and the onset of first bowel movement were recorded. Main results The TIVA group had lower intra-operative heart rates and mean arterial blood pressure (P<0.0001). The TIVA group also had a lower post-operative visual analogue score for pain assessment (VAS) (P<0.0001), lower total analgesic requirements (P<0.0001), a lower incidence of nausea (P=0.01) and vomiting (P=0.03), and shorter PACU stays (P=0.01). There was no significant difference between groups with regard to the onset of bowel movement (P=0.16).

Conclusions: TIVA using propofol and dexmedetomidine is a better anaesthetic regimen than inhalation anaesthesia using desflurane for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients. The TIVA technique provided better postoperative recovery with fewer postoperative side effects and analgesic requirements.

Clinical Trial Registery Number: NCT03029715.