Advantages | TIVA

Advantages

The first advantage of TIVA is that it greatly reduces the risk of nausea after anesthesia (PONV = Postoperative Nausa and Vomiting).The nausea after the anaesthesia is quasi a protective reflex of the body, as a reaction to the administered drugs, which it recognizes as poisons. Especially gaseous anaesthetics can cause this nausea. However, the propofol used in TIVA counteracts it, which is why TIVA is particularly suitable for patients in whom this problem is known.

Another advantage is that the effect of the drugs used quickly subsides. The recovery period after surgery is thus relatively short and patients can be discharged home quickly. In addition, the sleeping phase is usually described as very pleasant.

TIVA also eliminates the side effects of inhaled narcotics. These are mainly nausea after the operation and postoperative tremor. In addition, TIVA eliminates the so-called excitation stage, a state of overexcitation before the hypnotic effect of the gaseous anesthetics sets in.

In addition, the TIVA enables ventilation with 100% oxygen. This is required, for example, during a lung endoscopy. This is not possible with a balanced anaesthesia with inhaled medication. This topic might also be of interest to you:

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Disadvantages

A disadvantage of the TIVA is that the depth of the anesthesia is less easy to monitor. With inhaled narcotics, it is possible to measure how much is administered to the patient and how much is exhaled again. This makes it easier to monitor how much of the drug remains in the body.

They do not accumulate in the body and are therefore even more controllable than drugs that are administered into the vein. Inhaled narcotics also dilate the bronchi. Therefore, TIVA, which does not use inhaled narcotics, is less suitable for respiratory diseases with narrowing of the bronchi, such as severe asthma or COPD. Another disadvantage and common reason for using TIVA less is that it is more expensive. Overall, the intravenous drugs have a stronger effect on the cardiovascular system and reduce the respiratory drive.