Calcium chloride minimizes the hemodynamic effects of propofol in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the hemodynamic effects of propofol and the counteracting effect of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: University hospital, department of cardiac surgery. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-eight patients undergoing elective CABG, divided into group A (n = 29) and group B (n = 29). INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia was induced with a combination of fentanyl, 7 microg/kg; pancuronium, 0.1 mg/kg; and propofol, 1.5 mg/kg, administered over 60 seconds. A blinded investigator administered saline in group A patients and 10 mg/kg of CaCl2 in group B patients at the same speed and same time as propofol administration through another lumen of the central venous catheter. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic data were obtained at baseline (T0), 2 minutes after anesthesia induction (T1), and 2 minutes after tracheal intubation (T2). Heart rate decreased significantly in group A patients (86.2+/-11.3 beats/min at T0 and 72.8+/-7.5 beats/min at T2; p < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly in patients in both groups (group A, 108.0+/-12.0 mmHg at T0; 74.6+/-14.6mmHg at T2;p < 0.001 and group B, 106.0+/-10.2 mmHg at T0; 90.4+/-10.0 mmHg at T2; p < 0.05). Stroke volume index, cardiac index, and cardiac output decreased in group A patients (39.4+/-4.1 mL/beat/m2 at T0 and 28.8+/-5.2 mL/beat/m2 at T2; p < 0.05; 3.4+/-0.6 L/min/m2 at T0 and 1.9+/-0.3 L/min/m2 at T2; p < 0.001; 5.9+/-0.9 L/min at T0 and 3.4+/-0.4 L/min at T2; p < 0.001, respectively), whereas in group B patients, changes were negligible (38.1+/-7.0 mL/beat/m2 at T0 v 35.7+/-6.6 mL/beat/m2 at T2; (NS) 3.3+/-0.5 L/min/m2 at T0 v 2.7+/-0.3 L/min/m2 at T2; (NS) 5.7+/-0.9 L/min at T0 v 4.7+/-0.5 L/min at T2; (NS), respectively). CONCLUSION: Simultaneous administration of CaCl2 during the induction of anesthesia minimizes the potential negative effect of propofol on cardiac function in cardiac patients.