HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS, MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA, AND TIMING OF TRACHEAL EXTUBATION WITH PROPOFOL-BASED ANESTHESIA FOR CARDIAC-SURGERY

Recent interest in earlier tracheal extubation after coronary artery b ypass graft (CABG) surgery has focused attention on the potential bene fits of a propofol-based technique. We randomized 124 patients (34 wit h poor ventricular function) undergoing CABG surgery to receive either a propofol-based (5 mg . kg(-1) . h(-1) prior to sternotomy, 3 mg . k g(-1) . h(-1) thereafter; n = 58) or enflurane-based (0.2%-1.0%, n = 6 6) anesthetic. Induction of anesthesia consisted of fentanyl 15 mu g/k g and midazolam 0.05 mg/kg intravenously in both groups. The enflurane group received an additional bolus of fentanyl 5 mu g/kg prior to ste rnotomy and fentanyl 10 mu g/kg with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg at commenceme nt of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients receiving propofol were e xtubated earlier (median 9.1 h versus 12.3 h, P = 0.006), although the re was no difference in time to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge (b oth 22 h, P = 0.54). Both groups had similar hemodynamic changes throu ghout (all P > 0.10), as well as metaraminol (P = 0.49) and inotrope r equirements (P > 0.10), intraoperative myocardial ischemia (P = 0.12) and peri-operative myocardial infarction (P = 0.50). The results of th is trial suggest that a propofol-based anesthetic, when compared to an enflurane-based anesthetic requiring additional dosing of fentanyl an d midazolam for CPB, can lead to a significant reduction in time to ex tubation after CABG surgery, without adverse hemodynamic effects, incr eased risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction.