Protection of Propofol on Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Objective To study the effects of propofol on the NF-κB activity and pulmonary compliance and explore mechanism of its pulmonary protection.Methods Thirty ASA Ⅱ-Ⅲ patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement surgery with CPB were randomly divided into two groups. Anesthesia was maintained with propfol in group P and with midazolam in group M. 3 milliliter radial artery blood was abstracted before induction of anesthesia, 30 min after CPB, 30 min, 4 hours and 24 hours after CPB finishing. NF-κB activity was tested in electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The variety of pulmonary compliance and peak pressure of airway before CPB, at the end of CPB and surgery was monitored and recorded. The differences between the two groups were analyzed with Student t-test. Results The peak value of NF-κB activity was got 30 min after CPB in both group. The NF-κB activity in group P was lower than that in group D 30 min after CPB, 30 min, 4 hours and 24 hours after CPB finishing. Pulmonary compliance decreased significantly in both groups at the end of CPB, but it was better in group P than that in group M at the end of CPB or at the end of surgery (P0.05). Conclusion Propfol can reduce the activity of NK-κB and plays a role on pulmonary protection during CPB.