Background: The choice of anaesthetic techniques is important for the outcome of
traumatic brain injury (TBI) emergency surgery. The objective of this study was to compare
patient outcomes for target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia.
Methods: A total of 110 severe TBI patients, aged 18–60, who underwent emergency
brain surgery were randomised into Group T (TCI) (n = 55) and Group S (sevoflurane) (n = 55).
Anaesthesia was maintained in Group T with propofol target plasma concentration of 3–6 μg/mL
and in Group S with minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane 1.0–1.5. Both groups
received TCI remifentanil 2–8 ng/mL for analgesia. After the surgery, patients were managed in
the intensive care unit and were followed up until discharge for the outcome parameters.
Results: Demographic characteristics were comparable in both groups. Differences
in Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at discharge were not significant between Group T and
Group S (P = 0.25): the percentages of mortality (GOS 1) [27.3% versus 16.4%], vegetative and
severe disability (GOS 2–3) [29.1% versus 41.8%] and good outcome (GOS 4–5) [43.6% versus
41.8%] were comparable in both groups. There were no significant differences in other outcome
parameters.
Conclusion: TCI propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia were comparable in the outcomes
of TBI patients after emergency surgery.