The effects of the non-volatile anaesthetic agents, propofol and thiopental, on erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Objectives: The reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) induced by general anaesthesia was demonstrated in our previous study. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the type of induction agent (propofol or thiopental) used for general anaesthesia had any effects on ESR.

Methods: Sixty-four patients (ASA Physical Status Classification, I-II) scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned into two groups. In Group I, propofol and in Group II, thiopental were used as induction agents. Two blood samples were obtained before induction and 10 minutes after endotracheal intubation for ESR measurements.

Results: The ESR values of the second samples from both groups were significantly lower than the values of the first samples, but there were no statistically significant differences in ESR values between the values of the two groups.

Conclusion: The results showed that general anaesthesia decreased ESR values regardless of the type of agents being used for induction of anaesthesia. The reason might be related to other drugs used in both groups, or to a common effector mechanism of the two induction agents. The underlying mechanism needs to be investigated.