Propofol Infusion and PONV in Cardiac Surgery

Overview

The aim of this observational cohort study is to evaluate the effect of high-dose versus low-dose propofol infusion on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The study also seeks to assess the predictive performance of the Apfel and Koivuranta risk scores for PONV in the cardiac surgery population. The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of routinely administered high-dose propofol on the incidence and severity of PONV in CABG patients. The secondary objective is to evaluate the need for antiemetic therapy during the intensive care unit stay. The investigators will compare patients receiving high-dose propofol with those receiving low-dose propofol to determine whether the antiemetic effect of propofol is dose-dependent. Participants will be asked to: Allow PONV assessments to be performed during the first 24 hours postoperatively, Provide permission for the collection of clinical data (including demographic characteristics, risk scores, opioid consumption, etc.) for research purposes.

This research is designed as a prospective, observational cohort study to be conducted on patients undergoing open-heart surgery between November 2025 and March 2026. In the preoperative period, patients will be instructed to abstain from solid food intake after 24:00 on the night before surgery; consumption of non-alcoholic clear liquids will be allowed until two hours prior to the operation. All procedures will be performed at the Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Cardiology Institute. Following the acquisition of written informed consent, all patients will be transferred to the operating room, where an 18G intravenous cannula will be inserted, and premedication will be administered with midazolam 0.03 mg/kg (IV). Standard monitoring will include a five-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate assessment, invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, and peripheral oxygen saturation measurement. All patients will undergo standard anesthesia induction with midazolam 0.15 mg/kg, fentanyl 10 µg/kg, and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg (IV). Orotracheal intubation will be performed using an endotracheal tube of appropriate size according to the patient's age and sex. Following intubation, mechanical ventilation will be initiated and adjusted to maintain an end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) level between 35 and 45 mmHg. During anesthesia maintenance, the bispectral index (BIS) value will be kept within the 40-60 range. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) will be maintained using propofol, fentanyl, and rocuronium infusions at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. During surgery, all patients will be connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machine. After completion of graft placement and stabilization of vital signs, patients will be weaned from bypass. Postoperatively, patients will be transported to the intensive care unit (ICU) while still intubated, where mechanical ventilation will be continued and extubation will be performed according to their clinical condition. Preoperative variables collected for the study will include age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), ASA physical status classification (ASA PS), smoking status, and history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) or motion sickness. Intraoperative variables will include type of surgical procedure, anesthesia technique, administered drug doses, PONV prophylaxis, duration of surgery, bypass time, and total anesthesia time. In the postoperative period, duration of mechanical ventilation in the ICU will be recorded, and nausea/vomiting assessments will be conducted systematically by a blinded observer at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after extubation. Study Timeline Approximately 5-8 CABG procedures are performed weekly at the IUC Cardiology Institute operating suite. Taking into account patients who may be excluded, data collection from approximately 60 patients is expected to be completed within 3 months. An estimated additional 1-month period will be required for data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation.