Protective Effect of Propofol and Its Relation to Postoperation Recovery in Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of propofol and its relation to postoperation recovery in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Twenty ASA class I–II children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery were randomly allocated to a propofol group ( n = 10) or a control group ( n = 10). Blood samples were collected at five time points: before operation ( T 0 ), before the start of CPB ( T 1 ), 25 min after the aorta was cross-clamped ( T 2 ), 30 min after release of the aortic cross-clamp ( T 3 ), and 2 h after the cessation of CPB ( T 4 ). The myocardial samples were collected at the time of incubation into the right atrium before CPB and at 30 min after reperfusion. After CPB, propofol significantly suppressed the increase of the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CK), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and the decrease of the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) level. In addition, propofol inhibited the increase of myocardial nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression and inflammatory cells infiltration after CPB. Furthermore, propofol significantly shortened the tracheal extubation time. In conclusion, propofol exerts a protective effect and improves postoperation recovery through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in children undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.