Abstract
Ketamine, propofol and thiopental have been used extensively for anesthesia and sedation. We evaluated the immunological role of these intravenous anesthetics on the macrophage functions of chemotaxis, phagocytosis and superoxide anion production. Ketamine significantly inhibited macrophage chemotaxis and the production of superoxide anion by macrophages, but did not affect the phagocytosis ofEscherichia coliby macrophages. Similarly, propofol significantly inhibited macrophage chemotaxis and the production of superoxide anion by macrophages, but did not affect the phagocytosis ofEscherichia coliby macrophages. In contrast, thiopental significantly inhibited macrophage chemotaxis, the phagocytosis ofEscherichia coliby macrophages, and the production of superoxide anion by macrophages. These results suggest that ketamine, propofol and thiopental may be a negative regulator of macrophage functions.
