Propofol anaesthesia and metabolic acidosis in children

We aimed to investigate the effect of propofol infusion anesthesia on acid-base status in healthy children during short term anesthesia. The blood triglyceride, cholesterol, AST, ALT, LDH, CK-MB, asetoasetat levels and acid base status in children receiving propofol to provide total intravenous anaesthesia were determined. 36 Children aged 3-12 years were premedicated with midazolam, 0.5 mg kg-1 perorally 30 minutes before the operation. In Group P (n=18) induction and maintenance were performed with propofol, 3 mg kg-1 and 20-15-10 mg kg-1 h-1 with ten minutes intervals respectively. In Group H (n=18) following induction with 5 mg kg-1 thiopenthal, anaesthesia was maintained with 2-3 % halothane. All patients recieved 2 μ kg-1 h-1, iv fentanil for analgesia. Endotracheal entubation was performed with 0.1mg kg-1 vecoronium. Arterial and venous blood samples were obtained following anaesthesia induction and 30, 60 and 120 min after discontinuation of anaesthesia for analysis. There was no significant difference in AST, ALT and cholesterol levels between and within the groups. All postoperative triglyceride levels were significantly higher in Group P than Group H (p<0.05) and all postoperative pH levels were lower in Group P than Group H (p<0.05). However, we did not observe metabolic acidosis and any change other biochemical parameters in all patients. We concluded that, propofol had no effect on acid-base status, liver and myocardial enzymes levels and could be used in short term anaesthesia of children.