Comparison of serum dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis and nitric oxide levels of total intravenous vs inhaled anaesthesia in endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery

Background Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TPS) is traditionally performed under general anaesthesia. This study aimed to compare the effects of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) or sevoflurane, an inhalation anaesthetic, on thiol‐disulphide homeostasis in patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal TPS. Methods In this study, 84 patients scheduled for TPS were randomly categorised into two groups: propofol (n = 42, the TIVA group) or sevoflurane (n = 42, the SEVO group). Blood samples were taken before induction of general anaesthesia and at the 30 minutes of postoperation. Serum native thiol and total thiol levels were detected, and the number of dynamic disulphide bonds and related ratios were calculated from these values. Serum nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured using a chemiluminescence method. Results Although native thiol levels in TIVA postoperation group were markedly increased (P