Background: Our study aimed to compare the effects of Sevoflurane- and propofol-based anaesthetic regimens on oxygenation during the early period of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients undergoing cardiac valve-replacement surgery.
Methods: Patients undergoing mechanical mitral, aortic or double valve replacement were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the sevoflurane-based anaesthetic regimen group consisted of patients who received 1-3% sevoflurane inhalation during anaesthesia maintenance and the propofol-based anaesthetic regimen group consisted of patients who received 6-10 mg/kg/h of propofol infusion during anaesthesia maintenance. The partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2), respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics were recorded during CPB.
Results: Forty-two patients met the eligibility criteria for the study. The groups did not differ in terms of clinical and demographic characteristics, and pre- and intra-operative features. Changes in oxygenation were mild (mean PaO2/FiO2 from 358 ± 82 to 471 ± 106 mmHg) within one hour of CPB in our patients. There were no differences in PaO2/FiO2, respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics between the sevoflurane and propofol groups.
Conclusions: In patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB, lung injury was mild, and sevoflurane- and propofol-based anaesthetic regimens showed similar effect on oxygenation, respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics during the early stage of CPB.
Keywords: cardiac valve replacement; cardiopulmonary bypass; oxygenation; propofol; sevoflurane.