Influence of sevoflurane and desflurane on neurological and adaptive capacity scores in newborns

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal and neonatal effects of desflurane compared with the sevoflurane for general anesthesia for cesarean section.

METHODS: The study was conducted as a prospective randomized blind study between January 2003 to January 2004 at the Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. One hundred and two American Society of Anesthesiologists ASA I patients aged between 20-35 at 37-42 weeks of pregnancy were randomly allocated into 2 groups. All patients received thiopental and succinylcholine for induction. Patients assigned to the first group received desflurane 2.5%, and the second group sevoflurane 1.5% combined with 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen. Maternal blood loss, umbilical arterial blood gas values, delivery intervals, Apgar scores, and neurologic and adaptive capacity score NACS on the fifteenth minute, second hour, and twenty-fourth hour of age were evaluated to assess the neonatal status.

RESULTS: One hundred and two 52 sevoflurane group, 50 desflurane group parturients were included in the study. In the desflurane group, NACS were significantly better on the fifteenth minute and second hour evaluations. There were no statistically significant differences in twenty-fourth hour NACS evaluations, Apgar scores, umbilical arterial blood gas values, delivery times, and maternal blood loss between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Desflurane anesthesia offers more favorable results compared to sevoflurane in newborns delivered by elective cesarean section under general anesthesia in the early hours after delivery.