Evaluation of acute cardiovascular effects of propofol on hemodynamic function in pigs

Abstract

Background: Although propofol is a common hypnotic in laboratory pigs, its acute effects on cardiovascular function have not been investigated in this species. Therefore, the short-term cardiovascular effects of intravenous propofol bolus injection were observed using vascular ultrasonography and pulse contour-derived cardiac output (PiCCO) thermodilution monitoring. Materials and methods: In this prospective, experimental study, anesthesia was induced and maintained intravenously with propofol in six pigs. During anesthesia, three defined bolus injections of propofol were given intravenously. Vascular and hemodynamic variables were recorded by capnometry, pulse oximetry, and ultrasonography of the right common carotid artery before injection and for 10 minutes after each propofol bolus injection. Additionally, body temperature, blood pressure and central venous pressure, cardiac output, contractility, volumetric variables for preload and afterload, and extravascular lung water were recorded by PiCCO.