Comparison Between Propofol and Inhalational Anaesthetic Agents on Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery

All patients undergoing heart bypass surgery are given anaesthetics during the operation. There are two types of anaesthetic commonly given to patients undergoing heart bypass surgery. Propofol is an anaesthetic that is delivered into the patient's vein. Other anaesthetics which are inhaled include Isoflurane, Sevoflurane and Desflurane and these are called volatile anaesthetics. Preliminary studies over the past ten years suggests that maintenance of general anaesthesia using only volatile anaesthetics has the potential to improve health outcomes after bypass surgery, when compared with propofol. Volatile anaesthetics have been shown to protect the heart, the kidneys and the brain, however results of studies have been inconclusive. Currently both volatile anaesthetics and propofol are used equally in clinical practice in the UK.