Propofol (TIVA) Versus Volatile-Based Anesthetics: Is There Any Oncological Benefit?

AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize the most recent available clinical and pre-clinical research data concerning the effects of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and volatile anesthesia on oncological outcomes and to discuss the biological basis by which these drugs are purported to exert effects on the cancer cell and on the host.Recent FindingsRecent retrospective analyses of clinical datasets have generated considerable interest in the hypothesis that the two major classes of general anesthetics in clinical use for oncological surgery —namely inhalational fluranes and intravenous propofol—disparately influence post-operative cancer outcomes. There is also growing pre-clinical data to indicate that these drugs exert distinct effects on cancer cell and immune cell phenotypes.SummaryThe available evidence tends to support the superiority of propofol in terms of the effect on oncological outcomes, but there is a lack of prospective data and a need to be mindful of the complexity and heterogeneity of both the perioperative period and cancer as a disease when interpreting study results and deciding future directions.

Source: Current Anesthesiology Reports - November 3, 2018 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research