Aim: The aim of this study was investigated the beneficial effect of propofol on thrombosis in a rat carotid artery thrombosis model. Methods and results: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent iron chloride3 (FeCl3)-induced carotid artery thrombosis model surgery were treated with vehicle (M group), low- (PL group), middle- (PM group) or high-dose propofol (PH group). Rats were received sham operation served as control (C group). As compared with the M group, propofol treatment significantly inhibited thrombus weights and improved the degree of embolization. Propofol also markedly improved blood CD62P intensity. Moreover, as compared with C group rats, the levels of plasma TXA2, PGI2, t-PA, t-PA/PAI-1 ratio, and P-selectin were harmful altered in M group rats in response to FeCl3 induction; these effects were improved in the PL and/or PM and PH groups. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the beneficial anti-thrombotic effect of propofol is likely attributable, at least in part, to attenuation of the endothelia injury, platelet activation and fibrinolytic inactivation induced by FeCl3 in a rat carotid artery thrombosis model.