Chemotherapy in colorectal cancer does not affect depth of anesthesia with propofol: Study

Korea: Preoperative chemotherapy treatment does not affect the effect-site concentration (Ce) of propofol for loss of consciousness (LOC) and loss of verbal contact (LVC) in colorectal cancer patients, show results from a recent study. The study is published in the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology.

In surgical prognosis, the depth of anesthesia plays an important role. The sensitivity to anesthetics is affected by the neurotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic drugs.

In the new study, Seunghee Ki, Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea, and colleagues aimed to determine if the effect-site concentration (Ce) of propofol for loss of consciousness (LOC) differs in patients with preoperative chemotherapy treatment. 

The study included 60 patients scheduled for colorectal cancer surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups -- those who had chemotherapy were the experimental (C) group, and those without prior history of chemotherapy were the control (N) group. 

Propofol was administered as an effect-site target-controlled infusion and the Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scale (MOAA/S) was evaluated. When the plasma concentration and the Ce became the same if the MOAA/S score did not change, the target Ce was increased by 0.2 μg∙ml-1, otherwise, Ce was maintained for 2 min and then increased. 

Our findings imply that chemotherapy did not affect the Ce of propofol for LVC and LOC in colorectal cancer patients, concluded the authors.

Reference:

Ki S, Cho Y, Choi Y, Lim S, Kim MH, Lee J. Effect of chemotherapy on effect-site concentration of propofol for loss of consciousness in colorectal cancer patients. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2021 Sep 17. doi: 10.4097/kja.21327. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34551470.