Sevoflurane vs Propofol Anesthesia in Obese Patients Undergoing Lumbar Surgery

Overview

This randomized, single-center, single-masked clinical trial aims to compare the immunomodulatory effects of sevoflurane-based inhalational anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia in obese patients undergoing elective lumbar instrumentation surgery. Seventy patients will be randomized into two groups: a propofol group and a sevoflurane group. Blood samples will be collected preoperatively, at postoperative 6 hours, and at postoperative 24 hours. Pentraxin-3 and serum amyloid A levels will be evaluated as primary inflammatory biomarkers together with IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, glucose, and complete blood count parameters.

Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and altered immune responses, which may influence perioperative outcomes. Different anesthetic techniques may modulate inflammatory and immunological pathways during the perioperative period. However, the comparative immunomodulatory effects of inhalational and intravenous anesthetic techniques in obese patients undergoing lumbar instrumentation surgery remain insufficiently investigated. This prospective, randomized, single-center, single-masked clinical trial is designed to evaluate the effects of sevoflurane-based inhalational anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia on perioperative inflammatory biomarkers in obese patients undergoing elective lumbar instrumentation surgery. A total of 70 patients aged 18-65 years with a body mass index between 30 and 34.9 kg/m² will be enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio into two study groups. In both groups, anesthesia induction will be standardized using propofol, remifentanil, and rocuronium. Maintenance anesthesia will be performed with either sevoflurane inhalation or propofol infusion in combination with remifentanil infusion under BIS monitoring. Blood samples will be collected at three different time points: preoperatively, postoperative 6th hour, and postoperative 24th hour. Pentraxin-3 and serum amyloid A levels will be evaluated as the primary inflammatory biomarkers. Secondary laboratory parameters will include IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, glucose, and complete blood count values. The findings of this study may contribute to understanding the immunomodulatory effects of commonly used anesthetic techniques and may help optimize perioperative anesthetic management in obese patients undergoing spinal surgery.