Comparison of the Effects of Desflurane and Sevoflurane on Middle Ear Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

• Published in: O.R.L. Journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties Vol. 75; no. 6; pp. 314 - 319
• Main Authors: Duger, Cevdet, Dogan, Mansur, Isbir, Ahmet Cemil, Ozdemir Kol, Iclal, Gursoy, Sinan, Kaygusuz, Kenan, Sahin, Omer Fatih, Uysal, Ismail Onder, Mimaroglu, Caner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Adolescent; Adult; Anesthetics, Inhalation - administration & dosage; Clinical trials; Comparative studies; Ear, Middle - drug effects; Ear, Middle - surgery; Ears & hearing; Female; Humans; Isoflurane - administration & dosage; Isoflurane - analogs & derivatives; Male; Methyl Ethers - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Otologic Surgical Procedures; Pressure; Young Adult; Inhalation anesthesia; Sevoflurane; Tympanometry; Middle ear pressure; Desflurane
• DOI: 10.1159/000355286
• ISSN: 0301-1569

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two inhalation anesthetics, desflurane and sevoflurane, on middle ear pressure. Methods: After we obtained written consent from the patients and the approval from our institutional ethical committee, we included 56 ASA I-II patients aged between 18 and 60 years in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups of 28 patients each. Desflurane 4-6% (Group D) or sevoflurane 1-2% (Group S) were used for anesthesia management in patients. Baseline tympanometry was carried out and recorded before the induction of anesthesia on both ears, and 3 more measurements were done and recorded 5, 15 and 30 min after induction. Results: In both groups, middle ear pressure values were found to be significantly elevated when compared to baseline measurements (p < 0.05). When middle ear pressure was compared between the groups, no difference was found between the values obtained at baseline and at 5 min in Group S, while especially the values obtained at 15 min revealed significantly higher middle ear pressures in Group D. Conclusion: It was observed that the increase in middle ear pressure caused by sevoflurane was significantly lower than that caused by desflurane.