Acid-base Status and Electrolyte Changes During Propofol Based General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Septoplasty

Abstract

Propofol is a widely used hypnotic agent globally; however, it may have adverse effects on critical patient outcomes, potentially by interfering with the organ-protective properties of other interventions. Propofol anesthesia can lead to disruptions in metabolic balance. This research aims to examine alterations in acid-base and electrolyte levels during septoplasty surgery when propofol-based anesthesia is administered. In this prospective, observational cohort study, a total of 30 patients between the ages of 18 and 65 with an American Society of Anesthesia physical status I-II were included. Arterial blood samples were collected both before the administration of propofol and five minutes after propofol injection, with the purpose of evaluating the acid-base status and electrolyte parameters including sodium, chloride, calcium and potassium. No cases of acidosis or statistically significant alterations in electrolyte levels were observed in patients following the administration of propofol. Furthermore, none of the patients exhibited any adverse effects such as cardiac failure, rhabdomyolysis, severe metabolic acidosis, or renal failure attributable to propofol during the study. We suggest that the induction dose of propofol for general anesthesia does not lead to metabolic acidosis or electrolyte disturbances. Keywords: Propofol, Arterial, Metabolic acidosis, Anesthesia, Acid-base balance, Potassium, Anion gap