Objective To compare the emergence characteristics between propofol total intrave-nous anesthesia (TIVA)and sevoflurane induction and maintenance anesthesia (VIMA)under the guidance of Narcotrend,and to see if the recovery of consciousness after different anesthesia regimen will be of identical Narcotrend index (NTI).Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients undergoing elective transsphenoid pituitary tumor resection were randomized to receive deep anaesthesia (D)or light anaesthsia (L)with propofol (P)/remifentail (group PD and group PL)or sevoflurane (S)/remifentanil (group SD and group SL).During surgery,anesthesia was maintained at a depth of NTI at 46-37 or 56-47 for deep or light anesthesia respectively.After surgery,group comparisons of the NTI at extubation,recovery time,and the time interval between NTI 80 and extubation (Tdelay )were performed by analysis of variance.Results The NTI at consciousness was significantly lower in group PD (84.2±2.7)and PL(84.9±2.5)compared with group SD (88.6 ±3.4)and group SL (89.9 ± 3.3)(P < 0.05 ).The Tdelay was significantly longer in group SD (9.4 ± 4.6 )min compared with group SL (4.7±2.4)min (P <0.05),but there was no difference between group PD and group PL. Compared with other groups,the recovery time was longer in group SD (P <0.05).Conclusion The results indicate that the NTI values at recovery of consciousness are not identical between patients re-ceived proposfol or sevoflurane anesthesia.