The influence of propofol and sevoflurane on hemostasis: a rotational thromboelastographic study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis, we investigated the difference in blood hemostasis, based on the primary anesthetic agents used during general anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty-six adult patients scheduled for elective ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia were evaluated with regard to changes in each parameter in INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses. The patients received intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil (TIVA group) or inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane (SEVO group). The ROTEM tests were performed 10 min before starting anesthesia and 1 h after finishing anesthesia. The INTEM and EXTEM analyses included the clotting time (CT), clot firmness time (CFT), alpha angle (alpha), and maximum clot firmness (MCF). The FIBTEM analyzed only MCF. Maximum clot elasticity (MCE) was calculated by (MCF x 100) / (100 - MCF). The platelet component of clot strength was calculated as follows: MCE(platelet) = MCE(EXTEM) - MCE(FIBTEM). RESULTS: The preoperative and postoperative parameters (CT, CFT, alpha, and MCF) in the INTEM, EXTEM, and FIBTEM analyses were not significantly different between the two groups. The MCE(platelet) also did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Presuming that the ophthalmic surgery had a minimal traumatic effect, we conclude that both anesthetic agents cause negligible changes in ROTEM analyses postoperatively.