Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T03:36:12.968Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Propofol as a bridge to extubation for high-risk children with congenital cardiac disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2010

Sarena N. Teng
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
Jon Kaufman
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, The Heart Institute, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
Angela S. Czaja
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
Robert H. Friesen
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesiology, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
Eduardo M. da Cruz*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, The Heart Institute, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: Dr E. M. da Cruz, MD, Head, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Program, Director, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit & Cardiac Progressive Care Unit, Professor of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado at Denver, School of Medicine, 13121 East 16th Avenue, B-100, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America. Tel: +1 720 777 6992; Fax: +1 720 777 7290; E-mail: dacruz.eduardo@tchden.org

Abstract

Background

Children with congenital cardiac defects may have associated chromosomal anomalies, airway compromise, and/or pulmonary hypertension, which can pose challenges to adequate sedation, weaning from mechanical ventilation, and successful extubation. Propofol, with its unique properties, may be used as a bridge to extubation in certain cardiac populations.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 0–17-year-old patients admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit between January, 2007 and September, 2008, who required mechanical ventilation and received a continuous infusion of propofol as a bridge to extubation. Medical charts were reviewed for demographics, associated comorbidities, as well as additional sedation medications and haemodynamic trends including vital signs and vasopressor support during the peri-infusion period. Successful extubation was defined as no re-intubation required for respiratory failure within 48 hours. Outcomes measured were successful extubation, evidence for propofol infusion syndrome, haemodynamic stability, and fluid and inotropic requirements.

Results

We included 11 patients for a total of 12 episodes. Propofol dose ranged from 0.4 to 5.6 milligram per kilogram per hour with an average infusion duration of 7 hours. All patients were successfully extubated, and none demonstrated worsening metabolic acidosis suggestive of the propofol infusion syndrome. All patients remained haemodynamically stable during the infusion with average heart rates and blood pressures remaining within age-appropriate ranges. One patient received additional fluid but no increase in vasopressors was needed.

Conclusions

This study suggests that propofol infusions may allow for successful extubation in a certain population of children with congenital cardiac disease. Further studies are required to confirm whether propofol is an efficient and safe alternative in this setting.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Horan, MJ. Report of the second task force on blood pressure control in children – 1987. Pediatrics 1987; 79: 125.Google Scholar
2. Park, MK. Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners, 5th Edition. Mosby, Philadelphia, 2008, Appendix B.Google Scholar
3. Sheridan, RL, Keaney, T, Stoddard, F, et al. Short-term propofol infusion as an adjunct to extubation in burned children. J Burn Care Rehabil 2003; 24: 356360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Parke, TJ, Stevens, JE, Rice, AS, et al. Metabolic acidosis and fatal myocardial failure after propofol infusion in children: five case reports. BMJ 1992; 305: 613616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Bray, RJ. Propofol infusion syndrome in children. Paediatr Anaesth 1998; 8: 491499.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Wolfe, AR, Potter, F. Propofol infusion in children: when does and anesthetic tool become an intensive care liability? Pediatr Anaesth 2004; 14: 435438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Withington, DE, Decell, MK, Ayed, TA. A case of propofol toxicity: further evidence for a causal mechanism. Pediatr Anaesth 2004; 14: 505508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Fudickar, A, Bein, B, Tonner, PH. Propofol infusion syndrome in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Curr Opin Anesthesiol 2006; 19: 404410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Chen, WH, Lee, CY, Hung, KC, et al. The direct cardiac effect of propofol on intact isolated rabbit heart. Acta Anaesthesiol Taiwan 2006; 44: 1923.Google ScholarPubMed
10. Bovill, JG. Intravenous anesthesia for the patient with left ventricular dysfunction. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2006; 10: 4348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Sato, J, Saito, S, Jonokoshi, H, et al. Correlation and linear regression between blood pressure decreases after a test dose injection of propofol and that following anaesthesia induction. Anaesth Intensive Care 2003; 31: 523528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed