Propofol infusion through aorta can relieve ischemic-reperfusion injury of the spinal cord

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol infusion through the aorta on the spinal cord ischemic-reperfusion injury.Methods Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were equally randomized into 3 groups.Under anesthesia with intramuscular ketamine, midazolam and atropine, the rabbits were endotracheally intubated and ventilated.The anesthesia was intravenously maintained with midazolam, fentanyl and vecuronium. The arterial pressure, electrocardiogram, percutaneous O2 saturation, and rectal temperature were continuously monitored.The spinal cord ischemia was induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion for 30min. Meanwhile, the bilateral common iliac arteries were also occluded temporarily.During the occlusion, the rabbits in the 3 groups were respectively infused with the following solutions through a catheter to the distal aorta: 1% propofol 5ml/kg (group A), 10% intralipid 5ml/kg (group B), normal saline 5ml/kg (group C).The neurological status was assessed according to the Tarlov scale system at 6, 24 and 48h after reperfusion.After the last scoring, the lumbar segments of the spinal cord (L4-L6) were taken out under general anesthesia for pathological examination, and the normal motor neurons were counted.Results Fourty-eight hours after reperfusion, the rabbits in group A had significantly better neurological functions than those in groups B and C(P0.05).There was no significant difference between groups B and C.The histopathological results coincided with the neurological scores, the median numbers of normal motor neurons were 11, 1 and 0 in groups A, B and C,respectively.Conclusion The results indicate that propofol infusion through the aorta during clamping process can relieve the ischemic-reperfusin injury of the spinal cord significantly.