Intravenous versus inhalational maintenance anaesthesia on postoperative recovery parameters after general anaesthesia: A randomized controlled study.

Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) using propofol-remifentanil versus sevoflurane maintenance affects postoperative recovery, PONV and patient outcomes in laparoscopic surgery, though evidence varies. Hence, this randomised trial compared TIVA (n=60) versus sevoflurane (n=60) in 120 ASA I-III adults undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standardised protocols. TIVA accelerated extubation (7.4 ±2.1 vs 9.6±2.5 min; p<0.001), Aldrete ≥9 recovery (23.1±4.8 vs 29.2±6.1 min; p<0.001) and shortened PACU stay (40 [35-45] vs 50 [42-60] min; p=0.002). TIVA reduced PONV incidence (20% vs 38.3%; p=0.03) with less rescue antiemetic use, while pain scores and opioid requirements stayed comparable between groups. Propofol-remifentanil TIVA optimises early recovery, lowers PONV and boosts 24-hour QoR-15 scores versus sevoflurane, positioning it as the superior choice for enhanced postoperative outcomes.