A comparison of intraocular pressure changes and the recovery characteristics of desflurane and sevoflurane in young and elderly patients undergoing cataract surgery

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on intraocular pressure, hemodynamic parameters, and recovery characteristics in young and elderly patients undergoing cataract surgery. Following Ethics Committee approval and informed patient consent, we divided eighty patients into two groups: young patients (aged 20-45) and elderly patients (aged 65-80). Then each group was randomly divided into two subgroups, each consisting of 20 patients. The subgroups were given either sevoflurane 1-2 % or desflurane 3-6 % with N2O 66 % in O2. Emergence and recovery characteristics, hemodynamic effects, intraocular pressure changes were evaluated. Heart rates were higher in young sevoflurane group than in the other groups during the study period. There were no significant differences in intraocular pressure values. Orientation time was shorter in the young desflurane group than in the other groups; the difference between young desflurane and elderly sevoflurane groups was significant. The time required to achieve a score of 9 on the PAR scoring system was longer in group YS than in the other groups, and shorter in group GD than in groups GS and YD (p<0.05). This study indicates that because of postoperative rapid recovery, minimal hemodynamic and intraocular pressure effects, desflurane is more suitable as an anesthetic agent than sevoflurane for elderly and young outpatients undergoing cataract surgery.