Total intravenous anaesthesia versus inhalational anaesthesia for dental day surgery.

Fifty young healthy and unpremedicated patients scheduled for removal of impacted teeth were randomly allocated to receive either total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol or conventional thiopentone/isoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia. A double-blind postoperative assessment showed the former group to have a shorter reversal time and faster recovery of faculties, i.e. speech, memory as well as ability to sit up and walk without assistance (P < 0.01). There was no incidence of hypotension and of awareness in either group. The incidence of headache, nausea and vomiting was higher in the thiopentone/isoflurane/nitrous oxide group.