[Cardiac anesthesia induction by low target plasma concentration setting of propofol using target-controlled...

Propofol-anesthesia administerd using target-controlled infusion (TCI) has been proposed for cardiac surgery. But, moderate target concentration of propofol during induction using TCI has not been studied in detail.

Thirty patients scheduled for cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and TCI propofol anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups to receive a computer-controlled infusion of propofol with target concentrations of 1.5 or 2.0 micro/g x ml(-1) [1.5 microg x ml(-1) group (n=15) and 2.0 microg x ml(-1) group (n=15)]. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and bispectral index scale (BIS) values were recorded at 5 time points during induction of anesthesia.

MAP was significantly lower in 2.0 microg x ml(-1) group compared with 1.5 microg x ml(-1) group. In both groups, a rise of BIS value did not occur during tracheal intubation.

We have demonstrated that propofol TCI at a target concentration of 1.5 microg x ml(-1) is effective for hemodynamic stability during induction of anesthesia in patients for cardiac surgery under CPB.