Objective To investigate the effects of sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia and propofol-remifentanil combined maintenance anesthesia on the incidence of postoperative residual curarisation (PORC) in minor surgery. Methods A total of 104 patients who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2020 to January 2021 were selected for this study. Patients were divided into Sevo group (maintenance by inspirating sevoflurance) and PR group (maintenance by intravenous injecting propofol and remifentanil). The train-of-four ratio (TOFr) during extubation and the existence of adverse respiratory events after extubation were recorded. The incidence of residual muscle relaxation during extubation and the incidence of adverse respiratory events after extubation were compared under different anesthesia maintenance conditions. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, body mass index (BMI), operation time, time from muscle relaxant administration to extubation, and bispect ralindex (BIS) at extubation between two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of PORC and adverse respiratory events between Sevo group and PR group [69.4%(34/49) vs. 53.8%(28/52),P>0.05; 2.0%(1/49) vs. 9.6%(5/52), P>0.05]. TOFr in Sevo group was slightly lower than that in PR group, and the difference was statistically significant [85%(78%, 90%) vs. 89%(84%, 93%), P<0.05]. The overall incidence of PORC was high, which was correlated with age, BMI, operative time, time from muscle relaxant administration to extubation, and BIS at extubation (P<0.05). Conclusion Sevoflurane anesthesia maintenance does not increase the incidence of muscle relaxation residual during extubation.The incidence of PORC can be high during extubation under general anesthesia in minor surgery. Muscle relaxation monitoring should be performed routinely during general anesthesia to improve safety.