Chace Love

Biology 1615
Article Summary
Comparison of anesthetic agents
Summary
Anaesthetic agents have been reported to impair various aspects of PMN
function
Can using anaesthetics on critically ill patients further compromise an
already depressed host defence mechanism?
10 Volunteers tested
Some results indicate that i.v. anaesthetic agents, at clinically relevant
concentrations, have minimal effects on PMN phagocytosis and oxygen free
radical production.
Materials and methods
Blood from 10 healthy volunteers
Incubated for 1 hour with propofol, thiopentone, midazolam or ketamine
Performed tests at clinical concentrations and at 100 times the clinical
concentration
Results
Thiopentone at the higher concentration significantly reduced both
respiratory burst activity and phagocytosis
Ketamine at 100 times the clinical plasma concentration also reduced
respiratory burst and phagocytosis
No significant depression was seen in other groups
Discussion
Neutrophilis play a central role in the antibacterial host defence mechanism
Interference with the normal equilibrium between bacteria, environment
and host defence mechanisms may render the individual more susceptible to
infection.
This could be present in critically ill patients
Results of study suggest that the agents used in this study that are in
anesthetics have minimal effects on PMN phagocytosis and oxygen free
radical production
The effect on patients who may have depressed neutrophil function may be
different