Introduccion: posterior a la cirugia el anestesiologo busca recuperar la conciencia del paciente con la menor cantidad de efectos secundarios, especialmente sin agitacion psicomotora. Objetivo: comparar la eficacia del uso de la aminofilina versus solucion salina en la disminucion del tiempo de recuperacion de la consciencia en el paciente sometido a procedimientos quirurgicos bajo anestesia general. Metodologia: se realizo estudio experimental tipo ensayo clinico controlado, aleatorizado, solo ciego. Aplicado a 132 pacientes sometidos a anestesia general clasificados como ASA I o II. Se realizo distribucion en dos grupo, uno de aminofilina (2 mg/Kg/dosis) y otro de solucion salina 0.9% (0.1 ml/Kg/ dosis). Los datos fueron almacenados y analizados por medio del programa estadistico EPI – INFO, version 3.5.3. Se realizo la comparacion de proporciones para variables cualitativas y comparacion de medias o medianas segun criterios de normalidad de las variables. Se estimaron RR con intervalos de confianza del 95%. Resultados: el tiempo transcurrido entre la aplicacion de la solucion salina 0.9% y el despertar de los pacientes fue 12.4±2.6 minutos y en el grupo con aminofilina de 5.3±1.3 minutos, p< 0.0001. Teniendo en cuenta la escala Ramsay, se observo agitacion en el 15.2% de los pacientes del grupo placebo, mientras que ningun paciente del grupo de aminofilina presento este sintoma (P=0.0010). Se observaron cambios pupilares (de miosis a midriasis) en la totalidad de los pacientes manejados con aminofilina previos al despertar, mientras que en el grupo de solucion salina al 0.9%, se presento en el 18.2% (P<0.0001). La utilizacion de aminofilina tuvo RR: 5.5 (IC 95%:3.30-9.18) para presentar cambios pupilares y RR: 0.09 (IC95%:0.013—0.748) para la aparicion de agitacion al despertar. No se observo asociacion significativa para la ocurrencia de efectos adversos. Conclusion : el uso de aminofilina se asocio significativamente a disminucion en el tiempo de recuperacion de conciencia y reduccion de agitacion postoperatoria. Rev.cienc.biomed. 2013;4(2):256-261 PALABRAS CLAVES Aminofilina; Agitacion psicomotora; Delirio; Conciencia; Xantinas; Anestesia. SUMMARY Introduction: After the surgery, the anesthesiologist seeks to recover the consciousness of the patient nimbly and with the minor quantity of side effects, especially without psychomotor agitation. Objective: To compare the efficacy of the use of aminophylline vs. saline solution in the decrease of the recovery time of the consciousness in the patient submitted to surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Methods: An experimental study of type randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out. It was applied to 132 patients submitted to general anesthesia classified as ASA I and II. A distribution in two groups was done, one of Aminophylline (2 mg/Kg/dose) and the other one of saline solution 0.9% (0.1 ml/Kg/dose). Data were saved and analyzed by means of the statistical program EPI-INFO, version 3.5.3. The comparison of proportions for qualitative variables and comparison of means and medians according to normality criteria of the variables was carried out. The RR was estimated with confidence intervals of 95%. Results: The time passed between the application of the saline solution 0,9% and the awakening of the patients was 12.4±2.6 minutes and in the group with aminophylline of 5.3±1.3 minutes, p<0.0001. Bearing in mind the Ramsay scale, the agitation was observed in the 15.2% of the patients of the placebo group whereas no patient of the group of aminophylline presented this symptom (P=0.0010). Changes in pupil size (From myosis to mydriasis) in the totality of the patients handled with aminophylline before the awakening were perceived, whereas in the group of saline solution 0,9%, they were presented in the 18,2% (P<0.0001). The use of aminophylline had RR 5.5 (CI 95%:3.30-9.18) to present changes in pupil size and RR 0.09 (CI95%:0.013— 0.748) for the appearance of agitation to the awakening. Significant association was not observed for the occurrence of adverse effects. Conclusion: The use of aminophylline was associated significantly to decrease in the time of recovery of the consciousness and reduction in the presence of postoperative agitation. Rev.cienc.biomed. 2013;4(2):256-261 KEYWORDS Aminophylline; Psychomotor agitation; Delirium; Consciousness; Xanthenes; Anesthesia.