To evaluate unwanted side effects expressed in hemodynamic parameters, postanesthetic recovery and quality of intravenous total anesthesia (IVTA) with propofol, fentanyl and atracurium. A prospective study in 292 patients undergoing general surgery. Fifty-three percent of the patients were ASA I, 32.2% were ASA II and 14.8% were ASA II, representing a wide range of ages, weights and heights. Mean time of anesthesia was 108.25 +/- 56.96 min. Anesthesia was achieved with propofol 0.108 +/- 0.027 mg/kg/min, fentanyl 0.093 +/- 0.035 microgram/kg/min and atracurium 0.011 +/- 0.0034 mg/kg/min. Slight pain was evident at injection in 1.7% of the patients. Greater hemodynamic instability was recorded at induction, with mean decreases in systolic and diastolic arterial pressures of 16% and 10%, respectively, with scarcely any response to intubation and extubation. Anesthetic recovery was recorded at 5.95 +/- 4.97 min, with surgical amnesia in 100% of the patients. Nausea was seen in 3.42% and vomiting in 1.7%. Patient evaluation of anesthetic technique was "good" in 60.3% and "excellent" in 39.7%. Propofol dose was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with age (r = -0.33) and time of anesthesia (r = -0.4). IVTA with propofol and fentanyl in general surgery provides adequate maintenance of anesthesia for surgery and recovery, with good hemodynamic stability. In older patients and longer times of anesthesia, the total dose of propofol administered decreases, with negative effect on time and quality of recovery. Total dose of propofol administered is not significantly correlated with either time or quality of recovery.