Comparison of recovery parameters for xenon versus other inhalation anesthetics: systematic review and meta-analysis

Study objective: To summarize and evaluate the available data describing the recovery parameters of xenon anesthesia.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Anesthesia for elective surgeries.

Patients: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from databases including Medline (1964-2013), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, 1990-2012), and Google Scholar (1966-2013).

Interventions: Inhalation of xenon or other anesthetics was administered in elective surgery.

Measurements: Recovery parameters (time to recovery, alertness/sedation scale scores at "eye opening," bispectral index at "reaction on demand," time to extubation, and time to orientation).

Main results: Eleven RCTs (N = 661 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Recovery from xenon anesthesia was significantly faster in terms of the time to eye opening (mean difference [MD], -4.18 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.03 to -3.32 minutes; P < .00001), the time to reaction on demand (MD, -5.35 minutes; 95% CI, -6.59 to -4.11 minutes; P < .00001), the time to extubation (MD, -4.49 minutes; 95% CI, -5.40 to -3.58 minutes; P < .00001), and the time to orientation (MD, -4.99 minutes; 95% CI, -6.45 to -3.52 minutes; P < .00001).

Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirmed that recovery from xenon anesthesia is faster than other inhalation anesthesia.