Intraocular pressure more reduced during anesthesia with propofol than with sevoflurane:: both combined with remifentanil

Background: Short-acting anesthetic agents are suitable and commonly used in ocular surgery. Propofol and remifentanil are known to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), but no information is available regarding the effects of sevoflurane combined with remifentanil on IOP. Methods: Therefore, a prospective, randomized study was conducted to compare the effects on IOP of two different anesthetic techniques: one based on a total intravenous anesthesia with propofol (Group P, bolus 1.5-2.0 mg/kg, maintenance 3.0-7.0 mg/kg/h); and the other based on sevoflurane (Group S, inhalational induction, end-tidal concentration 0.7-1.2 vol.%). An infusion of remifentanil (10 ug/kg/h) was used with both techniques. In ASA I-III patients with normal IOP undergoing elective cataract surgery, using an applanation tonometer, IOP was measured contralateral to the operated eye at nine predefined time points before, during and after anesthesia. Results: The two groups (n=20 each) were comparable with regard to demographic data and hemodynamic variables. Baseline IOPwas 14.2+/-2.8mmHg (Group P) and 14.1+/-2.4 mmHg (Group S; NS). During, and following the induction of anesthesia, IOP was reduced in both groups. Intraocular pressure was significantly lower in Group P (6.0 +/- 3.2 mmHg) than in Group S (8.9 +/- 3.4 = Hg) during the induction of anesthesia. Conclusion: In patients undergoing cataract surgery under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation, anesthetic regimens with propofol as well as with sevoflurane, both combined with remifentanil, decrease IOPP significantly. The decrease in IOP was significantly more pronounced in the propofol group than in the sevoflurane group.