Total intravenous anaesthesia versus inhaled anaesthesia for endoscopic sinus surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol, compared to inhaled anaesthesia (IA), has been proposed to reduce bleeding and improve surgical field quality during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), but prior meta-analyses have not been conclusive. We performed an updated meta-analysis to determine the benefit of TIVA versus IA during ESS. Methodology: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TIVA versus IA. Demographic and outcome data were extracted from articles meeting selection criteria and analysed. Results: We included 12 RCTs for a total of 560 patients. Preoperative characteristics were similar between the two groups. Compared to IA, TIVA improved surgical visibility, estimated blood loss (EBL), and operative time. In a subgroup analysis with remifentanil as the short-acting opioid, TIVA improved surgical visibility, EBL, and operative time. These benefits were not seen with fentanyl as the short-acting opioid. Conclusions: TIVA with propofol, in comparison to IA, may improve surgical field quality, reduce blood loss, and decrease operative time for ESS. Remifentanil is the preferred short-acting opioid for TIVA in ESS.