Effect of propofol vs inhalation anesthesia on postop pain

Editor's Note

In this meta-analysis, propofol anesthesia was associated with reduced postoperative pain intensity at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours as well as reduced morphine-equivalent consumption 0 to 24 hours postoperatively.

Fewer patients required postoperative rescue analgesics during 0 to 24 hours after surgery under propofol, and patients anesthetized with propofol required administration of postoperative analgesia later than those anesthetized with inhalation anesthetics.

However, because of substantial heterogeneity, none of the results were statistically significant. Further large, randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate the results, the authors say.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have compared propofol-based anesthesia with inhalational anesthesia. Results from several studies have shown improved postoperative analgesia after propofol anesthesia, but other studies showed contradictory results. There are no large prospective studies that compare postoperative pain after propofol versus inhalational anesthesia. This meta-analysis was designed to focus on this question.