Total intravenous anaesthesia with methohexitone or propofol for knee arthroscopy in day-case surgery.

The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of methohexitone and propofol in total intravenous anaesthesia applied during planned knee joint arthroscopy in day-case surgery. Studies comprised 186 patients divided into 2 groups depending on the anaesthetic used (methohexitone n = 112 or propofol n = 74). ECG, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and blood saturation using pulsoxymetry were monitored during anaesthesia. The time of regaining consciousness was measured and the orientation test was performed 5 and 10 minutes after regaining consciousness. Our results and observations confirm that total intravenous anaesthesia is useful in day-case surgery for knee joint arthroscopy. Both methohexitone and propofol cause cardiac and respiratory depression. Patients on propofol regain psychomotoric efficiency earlier then patients who received methohexitone.