Effects of propofol on the cardiac conduction system

Background and objectives: Some studies have demonstrated that the use of propofol is occasionally associated with bradyarrhythmias or reversion of arrhythmias to sinus rhythm. This property of propofol suggests interference with the Cardiac Conduction System (CCS).

Contents: A review of the main contemporary articles on the use of propofol in the presence of cardiac arrhythmias was undertaken. The authors describe pathophysiological mechanisms of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT) and occasional interferences caused by propofol on the CCS.

Conclusions: The studies undertaken so far seem to indicate that propofol probably interferes in automatic SVT (at least in children), but not in reentrant tachyarrhythmias.