Summary

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to assess postoperative patients' self-evaluation after xenon anaesthesia compared to total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol. Methods: 160 patients aged 18–60 yr, ASA I–II undergoing elective surgery took part in this randomised-controlled trial. After approval by the local Ethics Committee and as soon as the patients had given their written informed consent, they were randomly allocated to either the xenon (n = 80) or propofol (n = 80) group. In both groups remifentanil was used as opioid. The postoperative patients' self-evaluation was assessed with a double-blind telephone poll. Early spatial orientation, patients' self-evaluation of anaesthesia, choice of the same anaesthesia for future operations and recall of uncomfortable feelings after anaesthesia were determined. Results: 116 Patients were analysed, 63 in the xenon and 53 in the propofol group. The two study groups were comparable with respect to age, weight, height, gender and ASA classification. The two groups indicated similar values in the early spatial orientation at the onset of recovery and thereafter. Patients' self-evaluation of anaesthesia with main emphasis at high marks and repetition of the same anaesthesia if necessary were similar in both groups. Recalls of uncomfortable feelings were comparable but not for postoperative pain and appetite/thirst which appeared with a significantly higher incidence in the xenon group. Conclusions: Patients' self-evaluation and memory of early spatial orientation following xenon anaesthesia are comparable to propofol.