Comparison of desflurane and isoflurane in anaesthesia for dental surgery.

We studied 50 ASA I-II patients, aged 18-65 yr, undergoing elective orofacial surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol, and maintained with 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen and either desflurane or isoflurane to compare recovery characteristics and cardiovascular stability. Cardiovascular responses to induction, intubation and incision were similar with both agents, although the increase in heart rate in response to intubation was less marked in the desflurane group. Maximum end-tidal concentrations of desflurane required were 4.0-10.6% (mean 6.8%) compared with maximum isoflurane concentrations of 1.1-2.3% (mean 1.6%). Mean duration of anaesthesia was 46 (SD 17.9) min (range 25-89 min) in the desflurane group and 41 (11.5) (23-60) min in the isoflurane group. Times to extubation were 6.7 (2.1) (3-10) min and 11.3 (4.1) (5-23) min, to eye opening 6.8 (2.2) (3-11) min and 12.7 (6.9) (7-37) min, to stating date of birth 9.0 (2.3) (4-12) min and 15.0 (6.9) (8-39) and to discharge from the recovery room 45 (11.6) (22-80) min and 64 (20.9) (28-134) min, for the desflurane and isoflurane groups, respectively (all P < 0.0001). No serious complications occurred in any patient.