Comparison of induction with and first hour of recovery from brief propofol and methohexital anesthesia

Anesthesia and recovery during the first hour after propofol and methohexital anesthesia for termination of pregnancy, lasting about 12 min, were compared, the latter in a double-blind manner by means of psychomotor tests (coin counting and continuous auditory reaction time). Muscle movements and hiccups were seen significantly more frequently during methohexital inductions. No differences were seen regarding pain at the site of injection or apnea between the groups. At 15 min after the last dose of anesthetic, recovery after methohexital was ahead of that after propofol, but after 1 h, psychomotor performance was better in the propofol group. Side-effects during recovery were few, and incidences did not differ significantly. Although the difference in reaction time test was significant, it was hardly large enough to be of any clinical importance. Both drugs are useful for brief outpatient anesthesia, but smoother induction gives propofol an edge over methohexital.