Desflurane versus propofol in post-operative quality of recovery of patients undergoing day laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Prospective, comparative, non-inferiority study

Abstract Objective Recently, the evaluation of postoperative results has focused on the opinion of the patient as of great relevance. Our objective was to evaluate the quality of recovery by questionnaire (QoR-15) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, comparing desflurane versus a total intravenous technique with propofol (TIVA). A non-inferiority hypothesis was proposed between both techniques. Material and methods Prospective longitudinal cohort study in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in which multimodal management was applied including low pneumoperitoneum pressures, deep neuromuscular block and pain prevention strategy and PONV. Anaesthesia maintenance was performed with either desflurane or propofol at the discretion of the anaesthesiologist. QoR-15 was evaluated pre-and 24 h after surgery. Results Sixty-one patients were evaluated: 29 in the desflurane group and 32 in the TIVA group with no differences in demographic parameters, ASA grade, and preoperative QoR-15 questionnaire. The duration of the intervention was superior in TIVA group, 55 ± 15 vs. 45 ± 9 min in desflurane group; p  = 0.05. The desflurane group received more fentanyl than the TIVA group: 200 ± 65 vs. 113 ± 38 μg; p  = 0.05. No differences in pain, PONV or time of stay between groups. QoR-15 at 24 h decreased 7% relative to baseline, with no differences between groups. Conclusions The quality of recovery evaluated by the patient was as favourable in the patients of the desflurane group as in those of the TIVA group in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy as outpatients.