Effect of propofol on breathing stability in adult ICU patients with brain damage

The aim of the study was to investigate Propofol's effect on breathing stability in brain damage patients, as quantified by the Loop Gain (LG) of the respiratory system (breathing stability increases with decreasing LG). In 11 stable brain damage patients full polysomnography was performed before, during and after propofol sedation, titrated to achieve stage 2 or slow wave sleep. During each period, patients were ventilated with proportional assist ventilation and the % assist was increased in steps, until either periodic breathing (PB) occurred or the highest assist (95%) was achieved. The tidal volume amplification factor (VTAF) at the highest assist level reached just before PB occurred was used to calculate LG (LG = 1/VTAF). In all but one patient, PB was observed. With propofol, the assist level at which PB occurred (73 ± 19%) was significantly higher, than that before (43 ± 35%) and after propofol sedation (49 ± 29%). As a result, with propofol LG (0.49 ± 0.2) was significantly lower than that before (0.74 ± 0.2) and after propofol sedation (0.69 ± 0.2) (p < 0.05). We conclude that Propofol decreases LG. Therefore it exerts an overall stabilizing effect on control of breathing.