ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare isoflurane and propofol as the principal sedatives in ventilated patients after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive, randomized patients undergoing cardiac surgery with ECC were studied prospectively. Patients were assigned to receive either isoflurane or propofol. Variables recorded were level of sedation, adaptation to the respirator and hemodynamic stability. RESULTS: Each group included 20 patients. The mean dose of isoflurane was 0.39% +/- 0.06% of end-tidal concentration. The mean propofol dose was 2.11 +/- 0.55 mg/kg/h. Statistically significant differences were found for stabilization of sedation time (4 min +/- 1.17 for isoflurane and 11.7 min +/- 4.78 for propofol) and time to endotracheal extubation (56.2 min +/- 20.47 for isoflurane and 72.65 min +/- 30.90 for propofol), number of times dosage had to be changed (2.20 +/- 0.89 with isoflurane and 7.05 +/- 2.58 with propofol) and time of administration had to be interrupted (8.45 min +/- 8.73 with propofol and 0.75 min +/- 1.94 with isoflurane). CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with propofol, isoflurane offers advantages of rapid stabilization of sedation, ease of use and shorter time to endotracheal extubation.
