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The effects of propofol on neutrophil function, lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response during elective coronary

T B Corcoran1, A Engel, H Sakamoto

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork University/Mercy Hospitals and University College Cork, Cork City, Ireland. mascor@bigpond.net.au

British Journal of Anaesthesia
|October 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Propofol reduces reperfusion injury and inflammation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with impaired heart function. This antioxidant effect may protect against oxidative stress and inflammatory responses post-surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass causes significant reperfusion injury and inflammation, particularly in patients with compromised myocardial function.
  • Propofol, an anesthetic agent, possesses antioxidant properties that may mitigate these adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of propofol in attenuating reperfusion injury and systemic inflammation in patients with impaired left ventricular function undergoing CABG.
  • To assess the impact of propofol on oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators post-CABG.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 27 patients with impaired left ventricular function undergoing CABG.
  • Patients received either target-controlled infusion propofol or saline from before aortic cross-clamp release until 4 hours post-reperfusion.
  • Measurements included Troponin-I, urinary 8-epi PGF-2alpha isoprostane, malondialdehyde (MDA), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, and leukocyte function.

Main Results:

  • Propofol significantly reduced coronary sinus and systemic malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations post-reperfusion.
  • Increases in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly lower in the propofol group compared to the saline group 4 hours post-reperfusion.
  • While Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels decreased post-reperfusion, they remained higher in the propofol group than the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Propofol effectively attenuates free-radical-mediated lipid peroxidation in patients undergoing CABG with impaired myocardial function.
  • Propofol demonstrates a systemic anti-inflammatory effect in this patient population, reducing key inflammatory markers post-surgery.
Abstract

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