Early postoperative cognitive recovery after remifentanil–propofol or sufentanil–propofol anaesthesia for supratentorial craniotomy: a randomized trial

This study was designed to evaluate early postoperative cognitive recovery after total intravenous anaesthesia with remifentanil–propofol or sufentanil–propofol in patients undergoing craniotomy for supratentorial expanding lesions. Methods: Sixty patients were consecutively enrolled, and randomly assigned to one of two study groups: remifentanil–propofol or sufentanil–propofol anaesthesia. To evaluate cog- nitive function the Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test (SOMCT) and Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) were administered to all patients in a double-blind procedure before surgery at 15, 45 min and 3 h after extubation.