Propofol-fentanyl anesthesia: a comparison with isoflurane-fentanyl anesthesia in coronary artery bypass grafting and...

The hemodynamic effects of propofol-fentanyl and isoflurane-fentanyl anesthesia during the prebypass period were compared in 42 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 22 patients undergoing valve replacement (VR) for stenotic lesions. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, 25 micrograms/kg, and pancuronium, 0.1 mg/kg, and was maintained with a propofol infusion commenced at 4 mg/kg/h (range 1 to 10 mg/kg/h) or with isoflurane commenced at 1% (range 0 to 2%). Additional fentanyl, 7.5 micrograms/kg, was given before sternotomy. Hemodynamic measurements were made before induction of anesthesia and at various times in the prebypass period. In the VR group, there were no significant differences between the two anesthetics in any hemodynamic variables during the study. Significant decreases (P < 0.05) in mean arterial pressure (MAP 14%), left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI 29%), and stroke volume index (SVI 24%) occurred after 15 minutes of propofol anesthesia in the CABG group. With isoflurane MAP was well maintained with reductions in LVSWI and SVI of 22% and 20%, respectively. Isoflurane was, however, associated with a significant increase in heart rate (HR) in the CABG group (P < 0.05), whereas no significant change in HR occurred in CABG or VR patients receiving propofol. With both techniques there were no significant changes in right-sided or left-sided filling pressures or in systemic vascular resistance index in the CABG or VR groups, except for a decrease in pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in the propofol VR group and isoflurane CABG group at the time of aortic cannulation. Propofol produced similar hemodynamic changes in the CABG and VR groups. Both anesthetic techniques caused myocardial depression and effectively controlled the autonomic responses to sternotomy in both groups. The study suggests that propofol-fentanyl anesthesia is an acceptable technique for CABG surgery and for VR in patients with stenotic valvular heart disease.