In vitro effects of propofol on blood coagulability and fibrinolysis by the use of thromboelastograph technique

Background: To investigate the in vitro effects of propofol on blood coagul ability and fibrinolysis by the use of thromboelastograph (TEG) technique. Methods: The blood samples, obtained from 14 healthy volunteers, were divid ed into two groups: propofol (n=7) and intralipid (n=7), and 360 mu l volum es of whole blood were incubated with 2 mu l of 1% propofol and with its so lvent intralipid, respectively. The incubated sample was then used for TEG measurements. Results: The maximum amplitude (MA), which reflects coagulability, in the i ntralipid group significantly increased by about 7% and 16% compared to the control and propofol groups, respectively (P<0.05), whereas the MA in the propofol group did not change. The fibrinolytic rate (FR) in the propofol g roup significantly increased by about 170% and 210% compared to the control and intralipid groups, respectively (P<0.05), whereas the FR in the intral ipid group did not change. Conclusions: Propofol, per se, has at the concentration of 55.6 mu g . ml(- 1) an in vitro accelerative effect on blood fibrinolysis detected by TEG.