Oxygen consumption after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass: the effect of continuing a propofol infusion postoperatively

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a fixed rate of infusion of propofol on total body oxygen consumption during the postoperative rewarming phase after cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Cardiac intensive care unit, university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four male and female patients undergoing elective first-time coronary artery bypass graft surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Total body oxygen consumption was measured using a pulmonary artery catheter and thermodilution during postoperative rewarming. Twelve patients had propofol infused at 2 mg/kg/h for 4 hours or until rewarmed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Total body oxygen consumption was reduced in the propofol group compared with the control group. Oxygen consumption was a median of 30.0 mL/min/m(2) less in the patients receiving propofol (p = 0.01). One patient receiving propofol shivered compared with 4 in the control group (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION: Administration of propofol during postoperative rewarming reduces total body oxygen consumption and may reduce shivering.