Cardioprotection with sevoflurane during off-pump coronary artery surgery

Methods Study included 48 patients induced in anesthesia with 8 vol.% sevoflurane within high 100% oxygen flow (5 L/min). Patients randomized into two groups: sevoflurane group (n = 24) in which anesthesia maintained with 1 MAC of endtidal sevoflurane concentration, and propofol group (n = 24), in which anesthesia maintained with continuous propofol infusion in doses of 2 to 3 mg/kg/h. Inclusion criteria were angiographically verified CAD and LVEF higher than 40%. Exclusion criteria were: AV conduction disturbances, AF with rapid ventricular response, myocardial infarction within 6 months, or diabetes mellitus. Pulmonary artery catheter used for the consecutive hemodynamic measurements. Cardiac index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were measured 5 minutes after anesthesia induction, on the beginning of ischemia, 15 minutes after ischemia and 15 minutes after sternum closure. For analysis between groups and time-points, a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and only p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.