| JOURNAL HOME | CME HOME | THIS MONTH | PAST ISSUES | ETOC | COLLECTIONS |
| AUTHORS | REVIEWERS | EDITORIAL BOARD | FEEDBACK | RSS | HELP |
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Departments of *Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and
Neurosurgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michael H. Dueck, MD, DEAA, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, D-50924 Cologne, Germany. Address e-mail to m.dueck{at}uni-koeln.de
Propofol provides some degree of muscle relaxation. Previous studies have investigated the effects of propofol on either the central or peripheral parts of the motor system. In this study, we simultaneously assessed both central (spinal) and peripheral effects. In 15 patients, general anesthesia was induced and maintained with fentanyl and midazolam. Neuromuscular blocking drugs were not administered. To investigate the central portion of the motor system, we monitored spinal F waves, an electrophysiologic variable of 
-motoneuron excitability. Direct electrophysiologic muscle responses (M waves) and mechanomyography were studied to detect the peripheral effects of propofol on neuromuscular transmission or muscle contraction strength. After baseline recordings, 3 IV boluses of propofol (2 times 1 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg) were administered at 5-min intervals. Mean F-wave amplitudes were significantly reduced compared with baseline measurements (mean ± SD, 0.22 ± 0.13 mV) after the first (0.13 ± 0.08 mV; P < 0.05), second (0.08 ± 0.09 mV; P < 0.05), and third (0.03 ± 0.04 mV; P < 0.01) propofol injections. M-wave amplitudes and mechanomyography signals remained unchanged. Our data suggest that the central part, but not the peripheral part, of the motor system is impaired after bolus administration of propofol.
IMPLICATIONS: Propofol bolus administration provides some degree of muscle relaxation in humans. We demonstrated a decrease of motoneuron excitability in the spinal cord, measured by F-wave analysis, a late electromyographic signal. No effects on neuromuscular transmission or muscle contractility, measured by electromyography and mechanomyography, were observed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T. M. Hemmerling, N. Le, P. Decarie, J. Cousineau, and D. Bracco Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol augments the potency of mivacurium: [L'anesthesie intraveineuse totale avec le propofol augmente la puissance du mivacurium] Can J Anesth, June 1, 2008; 55(6): 351 - 357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. S. von Ungern-Sternberg, F. J. Frei, J. Hammer, A. Schibler, R. Doerig, and T. O. Erb Impact of depth of propofol anaesthesia on functional residual capacity and ventilation distribution in healthy preschool children Br. J. Anaesth., April 1, 2007; 98(4): 503 - 508. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. H. Baars, S. Tas, K. F. Herold, D. A. Hadzidiakos, and B. Rehberg The suppression of spinal F-waves by propofol does not predict immobility to painful stimuli in humans{dagger} Br. J. Anaesth., January 1, 2006; 96(1): 118 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Manikandan, P. K. Sinha, P. K. Neema, and R. C. Rathod Severe Seizures During Propofol Induction in a Patient with Syringomyelia Receiving Baclofen Anesth. Analg., May 1, 2005; 100(5): 1468 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. H. Dueck, M. Paul, P. Sagawe, A. Oberthuer, C. Wedekind, and U. Boerner Different F-Wave Recovery After Neuromuscular Blockade with Pancuronium and Mivacurium Anesth. Analg., November 1, 2004; 99(5): 1402 - 1407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Ahrens, G. Haeseler, M. Leuwer, B. Mohammadi, K. Krampfl, R. Dengler, and J. Bufler 2,6 Di-tert-butylphenol, a Nonanesthetic Propofol Analog, Modulates {alpha}1{beta} Glycine Receptor Function in a Manner Distinct from Propofol Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2004; 99(1): 91 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
