Propofol Impairs the Central but Not the Peripheral Part of the Motor System

Effects of propofol anaesthesia on thoraco-abdominal volume variations during spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation

“…However, two studies have demonstrated the inhibitory effects of propofol on diaphragmatic contractility in patients during general anaesthesia 15,16 . We are not aware of any studies of the effects of propofol on the neuromuscular function of the rib cage, but if we hypothesise that data from other striated muscle could also be valid for the chest wall, Dueck and colleagues' paper on propofol's relaxant properties on the abductor pollicis muscle studied by stimulating the median nerve could be relevant 17 . They concluded that propofol mainly exerts a central effect due to the depression of spinal motor neuron excitability, with no effect on the peripheral motor system.…”

A deeper level of ketamine anesthesia does not affect functional residual capacity and ventilation distribution in healthy preschool children

“…A deeper level of propofol anesthesia results in a decrease in FRC and ventilation homogeneity (2). This difference can be explained by the blockade of the central part of the motor system and sodium channels in skeletal muscle by propofol that results in myorelaxation (23,24). Ketamine anesthesia is often used in the emergency setting where monitoring of the child might be limited.…”

2,6 Di-tert-butylphenol, a Nonanesthetic Propofol Analog, Modulates α1β Glycine Receptor Function in a Manner Distinct from Propofol

“…There is experimental evidence that anesthetic-induced immobility, a cardinal aspect of general anesthesia, is produced-in the case of propofol, at least partly-by action on the spinal cord (7). Depression of spinal ␣-motoneuron excitability (8,9) and depression of lowthreshold sensory information processing within the spinal cord (10) have been shown during propofol anesthesia. However, in one study, this effect was observed only with very large propofol concentrations (11).…”