Comparative effects of thiopentone and propofol on respiratory resistance after tracheal intubation

• Published in: British journal of anaesthesia : BJA Vol. 77; no. 6; pp. 735 - 738
• Main Authors: Wu, R S, Wu, K C, Sum, D C, Bishop, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.1996; Oxford University Press; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; Airway Resistance - drug effects; Anesthetics, Inhalation - pharmacology; Anesthetics, Intravenous - therapeutic use; Anesthetics. Neuromuscular blocking agents; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Spasm - etiology; Bronchial Spasm - metabolism; Bronchial Spasm - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mucus - metabolism; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Propofol - therapeutic use; Thiopental - therapeutic use; Trachea - metabolism; Human; Thiopental sodium; Intravenous administration; Respiratory disease; General anesthesia; Bronchospasm; General anesthetic; Bronchus disease; Complication; Intubation; Propofol; Barbiturates; Trachea; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/77.6.735

To compare the effects of propofol and thiopentone on tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction, 37 patients were allocated randomly to anaesthesia with either thiopentone 4 mg kg-1 followed by a 15-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion or propofol 3 mg kg-1 followed by a 9-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion. Intubation was facilitated by vecuronium 0.1-0.2 mg kg-1. Respiratory system resistance (Rrs) was measured by a CP-100 pulmonary function monitor, 5 min after intubation. The 5-min post-intubation Rrs values were significantly lower in the propofol group (8.5 (SD 1.5) cm H2O litre-1 S-1) than in the thiopentone group (10.9 (3.2) cm H2O litre-1 S-1). Thirty minutes after commencing isoflurane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia, Rrs declined by 17.5 (SEM 3.6)% from baseline in the thiopentone group, but by only 1.6 (2.6)% in the propofol group. We conclude that the dose of propofol administered provided more protection against tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction than an induction dose of thiopentone.