Myocardial protection during off pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a comparison of inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane or desflurane and total intravenous anesthesia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the myocardial protective effect of volatile agents-sevoflurane and desflurane versus total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol in offpump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) by measuring cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) as a marker of myocardial cell death.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 139 patients scheduled to undergo elective OPCAB surgery. The patients were randomly allocated to receive anesthesia with sevoflurane, desflurane or TIVA with propofol. The cTnT levels were measured preoperatively, at arrival in postoperative intensive care unit, at 8, 24, 48 and 96 hours thereafter.

RESULTS: The changes in cTnT levels at all time intervals were comparable in the three groups.

CONCLUSION: The study did not reveal any difference in myocardial protection after OPCAB with either sevoflurane or desflurane or TIVA using propofol as assessed by measuring serial cTnT values.