title: Comparison of isoflurane with propofol on respiratory cilia.
abstract: We have investigated the effects of two techniques of clinical anaesthesia on human respiratory cilia by measuring cilia beat frequency of nasal tissue. In a randomized, controlled study, 13 patients undergoing either inhalation anaesthesia with isoflurane or total i.v. anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil had nasal ciliated epithelial samples removed at the beginning and after 1 h of anaesthesia. Mean cilia beat frequency in the group anaesthetized with isoflurane changed significantly from 11.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.7-12.2) Hz to 9.1 (8.1-10.1) Hz after anaesthesia whereas in the group anaesthetized with propofol and alfentanil there was a change from 11.5 (10.7-12.2) Hz to 11.0 (10.2-11.8) Hz (ns). The difference between the anaesthetic agents on cilia beat frequency was significant (MANOVA, P < 0.01). These data suggest that different anaesthetic agents may impair respiratory defence mechanisms to differing extents.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Anaesthesia, Leicester Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Raphael
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Butt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D007530:Isoflurane; D015742:Propofol