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IV anesthesia with bispectral index monitoring improves outcomes in rhytidoplasty

Among patients undergoing rhytidoplasty, researchers discovered that combined propofol and ketamine hydrochloride with bispectral index monitoring for anesthesia use significantly improves time to emergence and time to meet discharge criteria when compared to inhalational anesthesia.

The prospective, double-blind, randomized comparison trial included 30 consecutive female patients who underwent rhytidoplasty by a single surgeon at a single center. The patients were randomly assigned to an anesthesia protocol and blinded to the protocol they received.

Researchers used a 40-item validated postoperative quality of recovery questionnaire (QOR-40) and visual analog scales (VASs) to assess patient measures.

The propofol and ketamine with bispectral index monitoring (PKA-BIS) group experienced a reduction in emergence time and time to meet discharge criteria. Postoperative vomiting and confusion the day of surgery were also less in this group, but it did not reach statistical significance.

Patients who received inhalational anesthesia reported twice the rates of confusion vs. the PKA-BIS group.

The cost of administering anesthesia were similar between groups.

The researchers concluded that while PKA-BIS seems to be comparable to inhalational anesthesia, in those undergoing rhytidoplasty, a larger patient sample size is needed for further exploration. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.