The Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Propofol and Sevoflurane in Children With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease.

Objective: The authors aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of propofol and sevoflurane in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

Setting: Single center, university hospital.

Participants: Children ages 1-10 years with CCHD undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Interventions: Children were randomized to receive general anesthesia with either sevoflurane (group S) or propofol (group P). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurrence was assessed at the end of the surgery and at the sixth, 12th, and 24th postoperative hours. Blood samples were obtained at 4 times: after anesthesia induction (T0), after release of the aortic cross-clamp (T1), at the end of the surgery (T2), and at the postoperative 24th hour (T3). The serum levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, and the total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status, were analyzed.

Results: SIRS was more common in group S than in group P at all times (p = 0.020, p = 0.036, p = 0.004, p = 0.008). There were no significant differences between the groups in the mean tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 levels at any time. The TAS level at T2 was higher in group P than group S (p = 0.036). The serum TAS level increased at T2 compared with T0 in group P, but it decreased in group S (p = 0.041).

Conclusion: The results showed that propofol provided a greater antioxidant effect and reduced SIRS postoperatively more than sevoflurane in children with CCHD undergoing cardiac surgery.