Effect of a subanesthetic dose of propofol on emergence agitation in adults undergoing rhinoplasty: A prospective randomized controlled trial.
Subanesthetic propofol before extubation lowered emergence agitation after rhinoplasty
Effect of a subanesthetic dose of propofol on emergence agitation in adults undergoing rhinoplasty: A prospective randomized controlled trial.
Emergence agitation (emergence agitation) following rhinoplasty can jeopardize surgical outcomes through increased bleeding and hematoma formation.
This study evaluated the effects of a single subanesthetic dose of propofol administered prior to extubation on the incidence of emergence agitation, recovery profile, and patient satisfaction in adult rhinoplasty patients.
In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT07276633), 80 adult patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II) undergoing elective rhinoplasty were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either intravenous propofol 0.5 mg/kg (Group P, n = 40) or 0.9% saline (Group S, n = 40) 10 minutes before the anticipated end of surgery.
propofol nearly halved the risk of emergence agitation
Although the mean recovery time was significantly prolonged in Group P (10.0 ± 1.1 minute vs 5.5 ± 1.5 minutes; mean difference = 4.5 minutes, 95% confidence interval: 3.92-5.08; P < .001), patient satisfaction scores were markedly higher (P < .001).
No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of adverse events, including laryngospasm (0% vs 7.5%, P = .241) or postoperative nausea and vomiting (5.0% vs 2.5%, P = .550).
Administration of a subanesthetic dose of propofol (0.5 mg/kg) before extubation was associated with a reduced incidence of emergence agitation and improved early postoperative satisfaction in adults undergoing rhinoplasty.
While this intervention modestly prolonged recovery time, the delay appeared clinically manageable, suggesting that targeted propofol administration may be a valuable adjunct for optimizing emergence quality in this high-risk population.