Sevoflurane does not inhibit human platelet aggregation induced by thrombin.

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane reportedly inhibits adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation by suppressing thromboxane A2 formation. The increase in intracellular calcium concentration that fosters platelet aggregation, however, is also induced by other cell signaling pathways, such as activation of the production of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate by thrombin. The current study aimed to clarify the net influence of sevoflurane on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. METHODS: Washed platelets were stimulated by thrombin after incubation with 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mM sevoflurane, halothane, or isoflurane. Aggregation curves were measured by an aggregometer. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured fluorometrically using fura-2. Calcium mobilization via plasma membrane calcium channels and the dense tubular system was assessed differentially. Intracellular inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Halothane significantly suppressed aggregation ratios at 5 min compared with those in controls (89 +/- 7%) to 71 +/- 10% (1.0 mM) and 60 +/- 11% (1.5 mM) and the increase in intracellular calcium concentration (controls, 821 +/- 95 nM vs. 440 +/- 124 nM [1.0 mM] or 410 +/- 74 nM [1.5 mM]). Halothane also significantly inhibited release of calcium from the dense tubular system (controls, 220 +/- 48 nM vs. 142 +/- 31 nM [1.0 mM]). Neither sevoflurane nor isoflurane produced a net change in aggregation ratios, intracellular calcium concentration, or calcium mobilization. Halothane (1 mM) significantly suppressed inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate concentrations, whereas neither 1 mM isoflurane nor 1 mM sevoflurane had any effect. CONCLUSIONS: Although sevoflurane has been reported to inhibit human platelet aggregation induced by weak agonists such as adenosine diphosphate, it does not inhibit human platelet aggregation induced by strong agonists such as thrombin.

In vivo and in vitro studies of the inhibitory effect of propofol on human platelet aggregation.

BACKGROUND: The inhibitory effects of propofol on platelet aggregation are controversial because the fat emulsion used as the solvent for propofol may affect platelet function. The effects of propofol on platelet intracellular calcium ion concentration and on aggregation were investigated. METHODS: Platelet aggregation was measured in 10 patients who received an intravenous infusion of propofol. Intralipos, the propofol solvent, was infused in 10 healthy volunteers and platelet aggregation were measured. The in vitro effects of propofol and Intralipos on platelets were also investigated. The inhibitory effects of various concentrations of propofol were studied. The effects of propofol on the changes in intracellular calcium level using a fluorescent dye, fura-2, were also observed. Template bleeding time was measured to determine the effect of propofol in clinical use. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation was significantly inhibited by infusion of propofol, although bleeding time was not prolonged. Intralipos did not inhibit platelets either in vivo or in vitro. Propofol significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in vitro and at 5.81 +/- 2.73 microg/ml but not at 2.08 +/- 1.14 microg/ml. The increase of intracellular calcium concentration was inhibited both in influx and discharge of calcium. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol inhibited platelet aggregation both in vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of platelet aggregation appeared to be caused by propofol itself and not by the fat emulsion. This inhibitory effect was also supported by the suppressed influx and discharge of calcium. No change in the bleeding time suggests that this inhibitory effect does not impair hemostasis clinically.

[The effects of prostaglandin E1 on the release of beta-glucuronidase in leukocyte and granulocyte elastase in patients for major abdominal surgery].

We have studied the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the release of lysosomal enzymes such as beta-glucuronidase in leukocyte (beta-GL) and granulocyte elastase (GEL) in 52 patients for major abdominal surgery. All patients were divided into two groups; the PG group (24 patients) and the control group (28 patients). The patients of the PG group received PGE1 continuously at the rate of 0.03 to 0.1 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 during surgery. Plasma levels of GEL and beta-GL, which are known to be the indicators of tissue destruction, were measured during and after surgery. The GEL/granulocyte ratio in the PG group was significantly smaller than that of the control group during surgery. The rate of change of beta-GL was significantly depressed in the PG group compared to that of the control group. These findings suggest that the administration of PGE1 during major abdominal surgery inhibits the release of lysosomal enzymes, and this prevents tissue injury during and after surgery.

[Three cases of perioperative brain infarction].

In recent years, the number of elderly patients who require operation has been increasing. We experienced three patients with perioperative brain infarction, occurring respectively, during the preoperative period, just after operation, and three days after operation. All three patients had more than one of the common risk factors for cerebrovascular accidents, including hypertension, advanced age, hyperfibrinogenemia, diabetes mellitus, and past history of cerebrovascular accident. On the basis of our experience with these three patients, we suggest the following: (1) Waiting period of elective surgery should be reconsidered in some cases with a past history of stroke. (2) Some high-risk patients may benefit from anticoagulative or antiaggregative drugs (e.g. low-molecular dextran or prostaglandin E1) to prevent brain ischemia. (3) Abrupt control of hypertension or diabetes mellitus status undoubtedly adversely affects the patient's general condition; and (4) A practical monitoring system to detect regional brain ischemia during operation under general anesthesia should be developed.

[Industrial standards of hose assemblies for use with medical gas systems: safety against collapsing loads].

We experienced troubles caused by mounting an anesthesia machine and a pump oxygenator on an oxygen pressure-resistant hose that connected the central piping system with the anesthesia machine. Therefore, we measured the resistance of 9 types of hose assemblies to collapsing loads by the method in the International Standardization Organization (ISO) 5359. Two types of hose made in the U.S. were highly resistant. On the other hand, 7 types of domestic hose tended to be obstructed with collapsing loads, and 3 of them did not fulfill ISO's criteria. To prevent anesthetic accidents, improvements in the property of hose assemblies and the establishment of their industrial standardization are urgently needed.