OBJECTIVETo compare the influence of propofol and isoflurane on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine response to perioperative period of tongue cancer surgery.

METHODSTwenty-four adult patients undergone the operation of tongue cancer were assigned to two groups randomly, propofol group (Group P) and isoflurane group (Group I). In group P, anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2-3 microg/kg, propofol 2 mg/kg, atracurium 0.6 mg/kg and maintained with propofol 5-8 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) and inhalation of 50% nirous oxide (N2O:O2=50%:50%). In group I, anesthesia was induced with 3%-4% isoflurane, fentanyl 2-3 microg/kg, diazepam 0.06-0.1 mg/kg, atracurium 0.6 mg/kg and maintained with inhalation of 50% N2O and isoflurane (ended-tidal isoflurane was maintained at 0.6%), in two groups atracurium was given intermittently. Blood samples were taken from peripheral vein before anesthesia (TO), at the end of operation (T1), 24 h (T2) and 48 h (T3) after operation for determination of serum IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and body temperature in two groups were recorded.

RESULTSIL-6 and IL-10 levels increased significantly in two groups at T1, T2 and T3 compared with T0 (P < 0.01). The increasing trend of IL-6 and IL-10 levels were similar in both groups, whereas the level of IL-6 at T1 in propofol group was lower than that of isoflurane group significantly (P < 0.01), however the level of IL-10 was much higher in propofol group than that of isoflurane group at T1 and T2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe influence of total intravenous anesthesia of propofol on post-operation inflammatory response is much gentler than isoflurane.