Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: Propofol is one of the sedative hypnotic drugs used for anesthetizing patients undergoing surgery. This drug is lipid based and therefore long-term infusion of it during prolonged surgeries and in intensive care units has the risk of hyperlipidemia. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein during administration of propofol and comparing it with that of isoflurane in patients undergoing surgeries in operation rooms of Rasool Akram Hospital. Patients and Methods: The study was an interventional clinical trial all patients undergoing surgeries in Rasool Akram hospital during the years 2004-5 were enrolled into our study. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups first group taking propofol and second taking isoflurane as anesthetic agent. Lipid profile(triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein) and CRP were checked before, immediately after, and the day after drug administration. For statistical analysis, repeated measurement of ANOVA, Chi square, Paired T-test and Square T-test were used. Results: A total of 97 patients were enrolled into our study, 49 of which took propofol and 48 took isoflurane. The mean operation time was 2.24±0.89 and the mean age of the patients was 38.14±18.99yr. Triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein(VLDL) were the two factors with statistically significant rise after infusion of propofol(P<0.000). Such a change was not detected in isoflurane group this increase was associated with a compensatory decrease the day after operation. Conclusion: Propofol infusion can induce dramatic rises in Triglyceride and VLDL even after short term infusions and therefore special attention must be paid to patients prone to hyper-triglyceridemia and pancreatitis.