BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that sevoflurane impairs glucose tolerance, but the effect of propofol on glucose metabolism is not still clear. METHODS: Two hundred and seventeen patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into two groups according to anesthetic agent used for maintenance of general anesthesia; sevoflurane group (n = 154) and propofol group (n = 63). Changes in blood glucose levels were compared between the two groups in four periods during anesthetic management ; within 1 hour, 1-2 hour, 2-3 hour, 3-4 hour after the induction of general anesthesia. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable with regard to patients' age, gender, height, weight, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status. In all time periods, blood glucose level in sevoflurane group was significantly higher than that in propofol group. CONCLUSIONS: Results in this study imply that the effect on glucose metabolism of propofol is much less than that of sevoflurane.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that sevoflurane impairs glucose tolerance, but the effect of propofol on glucose metabolism is not still clear. METHODS: Two hundred and seventeen patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into two groups according to anesthetic agent used for maintenance of general anesthesia; sevoflurane group (n = 154) and propofol group (n = 63). Changes in blood glucose levels were compared between the two groups in four periods during anesthetic management ; within 1 hour, 1-2 hour, 2-3 hour, 3-4 hour after the induction of general anesthesia. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable with regard to patients' age, gender, height, weight, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status. In all time periods, blood glucose level in sevoflurane group was significantly higher than that in propofol group. CONCLUSIONS: Results in this study imply that the effect on glucose metabolism of propofol is much less than that of sevoflurane.