Effect of sevoflurane versus propofol on cerebral energy metabolism in patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping

Objective To compare the effect of sevoflurane and propofol on cerebral metabolism in patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping.Methods Sixty-eight ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients aged 22-62 yr weighing 52-81 kg with Hunt-Hess Ⅱ or Ⅲ undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping were randomly divided into 2 groups( n =34 each): group propofol(group P) and group sevoflurane (group S).Anesthesia was induced with target-controlled infusion(TCI) of propofol (target plasma concretration 2.0 μg/ml,group P) or inhalation of 8％sevoflurane (group S) and iv injection of remifentanil 0.8 mg/kg and atracurium 0.5 mg/kg.Anesthesia was maintained with TCI of propofol(target plasma concretration 1.5 μg/ml,group P) or inhalation of 2％ sevoflurane (group S) and TCI of remifentanil (target plasma concretration 2.0-3.5 ng/ml) and infusion of atracurium (4μg· kg- 1 · min- 1 ).Samples of dialysate in brain were collected at 5 min before temporary arterial occlusion (T0 ),5 min (T1),10 min (T2 ),15 min (T3) of temporary arterial occlusion,and 10 min (T4),20 min (T5),40 min (T6 ) after cerebral aneurysm clipping for determination of glucose,lactate and pyruvate concentrations.Lactate/pyruvate(L/P) ratio was calculated.Results Compared with group P,the concentrations of glucose,lactate and pyruvate were significantly increased at T1 -06,and L/P ratio was decreased at T2-T4 in group S( P ＜ 0.05).The glucose concentration was significantly lower,and lactate concentration higher at T1 -T6,pyruvate concentration was lower at T1 -T4,and higher at T5 and T6,and L/P ratio was higher at T1 -T5 in both groups than that at T0 ( P ＜0.05).The concentrations of glucose and pyruvate were higher and L/P ratio was lower at T4-T6,and lactate concentration was lower at T5,T6 in both groups than that at T3 ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with propofol,sevoflurane can better improve cerebral metabolites in patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping. Key words: Anesthesia, inhalation;  Propofol;  Energy metabolism;  Reperfusion injury;  Brain