A Randomized Controlled Trial - Total Intravenous Anaesthesia Versus Inhaled Desfluran Anaesthesia in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery. Postoperative Pain and Nausea

Many factors during laparascopic surgery leads to PONV (postoperative nausea and vomiting), such as C02 insufflations causing peritoneal stretch and irritation and type of anaesthesia given during surgery.

The two anesthetic techniques used in bariatric surgery are gas anesthesia (Remifentanil TCI and Desfluran) and Total Intra Venous Anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol. There are studies which have shown a reduction in postoperative nausea and vomiting following TIVA, and there are publications showing no statistically significant difference.

The aim of this study was to investigate the best anaesthetic approach for obese subjects, evaluating awakening time, postoperative nausea and pain.

Our hypothesis was based on the fact that Propofol is a lipid-soluble anesthetic and therefore might have a prolonged effect in obese patients, leading to a longer awakening time along with postoperative nausea and vomiting. This hypothesis is also described earlier by obese patients have more depots (bulk fat) and also more fat surface making anaesthetics storage more easier, and also that the anesthetic will return into the circulation when the administration is stopped [18].