Comparison of early recovery and cognitive function after desflurane and sevoflurane anaesthesia in elderly patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectivesA meta-analysis to compare postoperative cognitive function and the time to specific recovery events in elderly patients (aged >65 years) anaesthetized with sevoflurane or desflurane. MethodsA systematic search of the PubMed (R), Embase (R), Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedical databases was performed using the keywords sevoflurane' and desflurane'. Data and characteristics of appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were extracted. ResultsThe meta-analysis included five trials (n=300). The time taken to follow commands (mean difference [MD] -3.27; 95% confidence intervals [CI] -4.95, -1.59), extubation (MD -1.59; 95%CI -2.62, -0.55), orientation (MD -4.31; 95%CI -4.99, -3.62), and recovery room discharge (MD -9.38; 95%CI -13.43, -5.42) were significantly shorter in the desflurane group than in the sevoflurane group. There was no significant between-drug difference in the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction or the time taken to open the eyes. ConclusionsDesflurane is associated with a faster recovery from general anaesthesia than sevoflurane in elderly patients.