ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the effects of propofol and midazolam on inflammation and oxidase stress in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two ASA class I-II children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery were randomly divided into two groups: propofol combined with low dose fentanyl (PF group, n = 16) and midazolam combined with low dose fentanyl (MF group, n = 16). Tracheal extubation time and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay were recorded. Blood samples were taken before operation (T0), at 2 h after release of the aorta cross-clamp (T3) and at 24 h after operation (T4) to measure interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Myocardium samples were collected at 10-20 min after aorta cross-clamp (T1) and at 10-20 min after the release of the aorta cross-clamp (T2) to detect heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. RESULTS: Tracheal extubation time and length of ICU stay in PF group were significantly shorter than those of the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). After cardiopulmonary bypass, IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels were significantly increased, and the SOD level was significantly reduced in both two groups, but PF group exhibited lower IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels and higher SOD levels than the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). The HO-1 expression in the PF group was significantly higher than that in MF group at the corresponding time points (p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Propofol is superior to midazolam in reducing inflammation and oxidase stress and in improving post-operation recovery in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery.