Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation (EA) is a common phenomenon observed in patients recovering from general anaesthesia, potentially leading to self-injury and compromised recovery quality. OBJECTIVES: This research aims to evaluate the outcome of intravenous and inhalational maintenance anaesthesia on postoperative EA and other recovery parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was conducted with 100 patients undergoing elective surgeries under general anaesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I received intravenous maintenance with propofol, while Group II received inhalational maintenance with sevoflurane. EA was evaluated using the Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale at predetermined intervals postoperatively. Recovery parameters such as time to extubating, orientation, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were also recorded. RESULTS: Group I demonstrated a considerably lower incidence of EA in comparison to Group II (10% vs. 30%, P < 0.05). The time to extubating and orientation was shorter in Group II, but the variation was not statistically considerable. The incidence of PONV was greater in Group II (25% vs. 10%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravenous maintenance anaesthesia with propofol is connected with a lower incidence of emergence agitation and PONV compared to inhalational maintenance with sevoflurane. These findings suggest that propofol may be a preferable agent for maintenance anaesthesia in terms of postoperative recovery quality.