Comparison of effects of sedation induced with propofol versus midazolam on anterior pituitary hormone in mechanically ventilated patients with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective To compare the effects of sedation induced with propofol and midazolam on anterior pituitary hormone in mechanically ventilated patients with traumatic brain injury.Methods Eighty-four patients with acute traumatic brain injury,aged 20-60 yr,weighing 50-70 kg,undergoing mechanical ventilation during sedation induced with propofol or midazolam,were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =42 each):propofol group (group P) and midasolam group (group M).Ramsay sedation score was maintained at 2-4.In group P,propofol was continuously infused at the initial infusion rate of 1.5-6.0 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 and propofol 50 mg was injected intravenously to increase the depth of sedation when needed.In group M,midazolam was continuously infused at the initial infusion rate of 0.10-0.35 mg· kg-1· h-1 and midazolam 7.5 mg was injected intravenously to increase the depth of sedation when needed.The patients were ventilated for 70-120 h.Glasgow Coma Scale scores were assessed before sedation and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were assessed 4 weeks after admission to the intensive care unit.Venous blood samples were collected at 24 and 72 h of sedation and 4 weeks after admission to the intensive care unit for determination of the levels of serum cortisol,thyroid-stimulating hormone,prolactin,and growth hormone by ELLSA.Results Compared with group M,the levels of serum cortisol and growth hormone were significantly decreased and the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone was significantly increased at 24 and 72 h of sedation in group P ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ),and the parameters mentioned above were in the normal range.There was no significant difference in the serum prolactin level and outcome between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The effects of sedation induced with propofol and midazolam on anterior pituitary hormone are comparable in mechanically ventilated patients with traumatic brain injury. Key words: Propofol; Midazolam; Conscious sedation; Respiration, artificial; Craniocerebral trauma; Pituitary hormones, anterior