• C A Botero, C E Smith, C Holbrook, A M Chavez, N J Snow, J F Hagen, and A C Pinchak.
• Department of Anesthesiology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2000 Aug 1;14(4):409-15.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cardiovascular effects of a propofol-ketamine combination in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery.DesignProspective, randomized study.SettingTertiary care teaching hospital, single center.ParticipantsSeventy-eight adult patients.InterventionsPatients were randomly allocated to receive propofol-ketamine for induction and maintenance of anesthesia (n = 36) or fentanyl-enflurane (controls, n = 42).Measurements And Main ResultsHemodynamics and other variables were recorded during and after surgery and for 24 hours in the intensive care unit. Before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), there was similar incidence of treatment for hypotension (42% of patients in both groups), tachycardia (propofol-ketamine, 6%; controls, 5%), and myocardial ischemia (propofol-ketamine, 3%; controls, 12%). In the propofol-ketamine group, there was a decreased requirement for inotropic agents after CPB (22% of patients) compared with controls (49% of patients; p = 0.02). There was a reduced incidence of myocardial infarctions (creatine kinase myocardial band >133 U/L) in the propofol-ketamine group compared with the control group (0% v 14%; p = 0.02; Fisher's exact test). Patients in the propofol-ketamine group were more likely to have their tracheas extubated within 8 hours of arrival in the intensive care unit compared with controls (33% v 7%; p = 0.01; Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel test).ConclusionsThe propofol-ketamine combination was associated with a similar incidence of pre-CPB hypotension and ischemia, a decreased need for inotropes after CPB, an earlier time to tracheal extubation, and a reduced incidence of myocardial infarctions compared with controls.

29 keywords...

hide…