Differences in sensitivity to anaesthetic drugs may exist among different ethnic groups. Allelic variants for drug metabolizing isoenzymes and pharmacokinetic differences may account for a variable response to some anaesthetic drugs. This study was designed to compare propofol consumption and recovery characteristics in four ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Malaysia and Caucasians in Italy. Patients undergoing total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and fentanyl were evaluated for propofol consumption and recovery time. The Bispectral Index (BIS) was used to maintain the same anaesthesia depth in all patients. The BIS value, the response to verbal stimuli and eye-opening time were used to assess recovery. After propofol discontinuation the BIS values returned to baseline in 11+/-4.2 min for Caucasians, in 12.5+/-5.1 min for Chinese, 15.9+/-6.3 min for Malays and 22.1+/-8.1 for Indians. Time to eye-opening was 11.63+/-4.2 min in Caucasians, 13.23+/-4.9 min in Chinese, 16.97+/-5.2 min in Malays and 22.3+/-6.6 min in Indians. The propofol consumption was significantly lower in Indians compared to the other three groups (P<0.01). The recovery of Indians was much slower compared to Chinese, Malays and Caucasians. The recovery time of Malays is significantly slower compared to Chinese and Caucasians. Differences in propofol consumption and recovery time were not significant between Chinese and Caucasians, but the ratio recovery time/propofol consumption was significantly lower in Caucasians compared to all the other groups.
This randomized controlled trial compared Bispectral Index (BIS) values in 40 patients after a modified rapid sequence induction using thiopentone 4 mg/kg or propofol 2 mg/kg with rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg as muscle relaxant. Endotracheal intubation was performed at 60 seconds from induction of anaesthesia and BIS values were recorded for three minutes after induction. At the 120, 150 and 180 second measurements there was a significantly greater proportion of subjects with BIS values < or = 60 ("anaesthetized") in the propofol group compared with the thiopentone group (P values < 0.02, < 0.01 and < 0.01 respectively). All intubations were completed within two minutes. No explicit recall of intubation was detected clinically with either induction agent. The BIS scores we have measured suggest that thiopentone 4 mg/kg is more likely to be associated with lighter planes of anaesthesia and consequent risk of awareness than propofol 2 mg/kg, if intubation is delayed or prolonged.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is an inherited disease causing fatty replacement of heart tissue. This disease often presents as T-wave inversion in the anterior leads of the electrocardiogram (ECG) with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. In older patients, progressive right and left ventricular failure can develop. This is a case report of postoperative death occurring in a 59-yr-old woman with undiagnosed arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia after hepatic cystectomy. The patient had T-wave inversion in the inferior ECG leads and no history of arrhythmias. During general anesthesia, cardiovascular collapse occurred in the absence of arrhythmias that was unresponsive to resuscitation.