Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Comparative effect of propofol and sevoflurane on chronic postsurgical pain and cognitive function after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients: A preliminary clinical study

Shuqin Wang , Shanshan Huang, Lianying Zhao

Department of Anaesthesiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Lixia District, Jinan, Shandong, China;

For correspondence:- Shuqin Wang Email: YvesAndreaaArQh@yahoo.com Tel:+8653182169114

Accepted: 21 May 2021 Published: 30 June 2021

Citation: Wang S, Huang S, Zhao L. Comparative effect of propofol and sevoflurane on chronic postsurgical pain and cognitive function after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients: A preliminary clinical study. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(6):1261-1266 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i6.23

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on chronic post-surgical pain and cognitive function after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients.

Methods: A total of 200 Chinese patients (aged > 65 years) with confirmed diagnosis of severe chronic artery disease who underwent cardiac surgery were given either propofol or sevoflurane. The following efficacy variables were assessed in both treatment groups: pain using an 11-point NRS after surgery; cognitive function, using Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), Clinician Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale; as well as psychological well-being and disability, using K10 Psychological Distress Scale K-10 and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) scale. Incidence of complications and duration of hospital stay were also compared.

Results: Pain severity score was significantly lower in patients treated with propofol than in those who received sevoflurane (6.1 vs 8.4; p < 0.05). Psychological well-being measured using K-10 score was similar in both groups (p >0.05). Similarly, there were no meaningful differences in disability score between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). The severity of signs and symptoms of dementia were similar at baseline visit (p >0.05). Propofol-treated patients had numerically greater relief in signs and symptoms of dementia/cognitive impairment, when compared to the Sevoflurane-treated patients (p >0.05). However, incidence of complications (including adverse events) was comparable in both groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Propofol produced significantly greater improvement in post-surgical pain and cognitive functions than sevoflurane after cardiac surgery in Chinese elderly patients.

Keywords: Propofol; Sevoflurane; Cardiac surgery; Chronic postsurgical pain; Cognitive functions