Propofol Cardioprotection against Myocardial Ischemia- Reperfusion Injury: A Mechanistic Review

Reperfusion after prolonged ischemia is necessary to rescue injured hearts while it paradoxically worsens cardiac injury, a phenomenon termed myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Overproduction of reactive oxygen species, calcium overload, and inflammation contribute to the pathogenesis of MIRI. Propofol, a commonly used anesthetic with antioxidant property, has been shown to be cardioprotective in experimental studies and in some...