Cardioand neuroprotection with volatile anesthetics in cardiac surgery

The researcher's opinions about myocardial and brain anesthetic preconditioning efficiency are yet contradictive. In addition, the anesthetic neuroprotection phenomenon is poorly investigated. In this study the authors attempted to evaluate the efficiency of myocardial and central nervous system (CNS) protection by using a modified method of volatile induction and maintenance of anesthesia (VIMA) based on «pulse-like» sevoflurane dosing that excludes propofol usage. Ninety CABG patients aged 45-75 years were included in the study group (VIMA) and underwent volatile induction with sevoflurane and anesthetic preconditioning (2 MAC) for 10 min before aortic cross-clamping, with ataralgesia used during CPB. The control group patients (TIVA) received propofol and fentanyl, no inhalation anesthetics were applied. Preoperative concentrations of NTpro-BNP were comparable. There was no significant rise of NTpro-BNP concentration in the VIMA group during the postoperative period. In the TIVA group NTpro-BNP concentrations were 3.8 and 4.8 times as much as the baseline values at 24 and 48 postoperative hours respectively (р