Comparing the effects of thiopental and propofol administration on the cardiovascular response as an induction agent during desflurane anesthesia

Yi, Jeong Beom; Kim, Sun Key; Choi, Kyu Taek

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to compare the hemodynamic effects of thiopental and propofol administration as induction agents during desflurane anesthesia.
METHODS
One hundred twenty unpremedicated ASA physical status 1 patients who were aged 20-60 years and who scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups. In group T, thiopental sodium (5 mg/kg) was used to induce anesthesia, whereas propofol (2.5 mg/kg) was used in group P. In each group, the inspired concentration of desflurane was increased to 4.0 vol% shortly after a thiopental or propofol injection. After 10 manual baggings, the target was increased to produce an end-tidal concentration of desflurane (ETdesf) of 8.0 vol%, and this was maintained until the end of the study by adjusting the vaporizer setting. The heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured at baseline, 2 min and 5 min after induction and at 2 min after intubation.
RESULTS
The heart rate was significantly increased in the two groups compared with baseline. In the P group, the mean blood pressure was decreased at 2 and 5 min after induction compared with baseline, whereas the mean blood pressure in the T group was significantly increased after induction. The mean blood pressure was significantly lower in group P than that in group T at 2 and 5 min after the injection of the induction agent. However, the heart rate did not differ significantly between two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
During desflurane anesthesia, the heart rate did not differ significantly between the two groups, yet the mean blood pressure was significantly lower when using propofol than that when using thiopental sodium.