THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED: Early recovery, cognitive function and costs of a desflurane inhalational vs. a total intravenous anaesthesia regimen in long‐term surgery

Background:  The purpose of the study was to compare time of recovery, return of cognitive function, post‐anaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay and costs of a propofol/remifentanil (TIVA) with a desflurane/fentanyl‐based anaesthesia (desflurane group) in surgical procedures lasting more than 150 min. Methods:  Forty‐nine patients undergoing elective abdominal prostatectomy were allocated randomly to receive bispectal index (BIS)‐controlled desflurane/fentanyl ( n  = 24) or propofol/remifentanil ( n  = 25). Awakening, clinical recovery, direct drug acquisition and post‐operative pain treatment were documented. Cognitive skills were tested using the Mini‐Mental Status (MMST) test. Results:  Extubation was significantly faster with desflurane (6.9 ± 3.5 min) than with TIVA (11.2 ± 4.0 min) as well as times for stating name and date of birth (desflurane: 6.1 ± 3.9 and 6.6 ± 4.0 min; TIVA: 12.4 ± 11.5 min and 13.4 ± 11.3 min). There were no significant differences in PACU discharge times or MMS scores between the groups. Significantly more patients suffered post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the desflurane (33% vs. 0%) than the TIVA group. Overall costs were significantly higher in the TIVA (58.8 ± 11.6 €) than in the desflurane group (35.0 ± 5.7 €). Conclusion:  Patients undergoing prolonged surgical procedures showed a faster early recovery after desflurane/fentanyl than using TIVA, whereas stay in the PACU and recovery of cognitive function were similar in both groups. Costs of a TIVA regimen were significantly higher than using a desflurane‐based anaesthesia technique.