Aim: Head trauma is a lethal, disabling, and pathological condition requiring long-term treatment and care. Thiopental and propofol infusions are frequently used for sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, we do not have clear data on whether they are neuroprotective or neurotoxic. We aimed to compare the early cerebral effects of propofol and thiopental, which are used for sedation in acute head trauma.

Methods: A total of 30 rats were included in this experimental study, and the animals were randomly divided into three groups; 5 ml/kg/h 0.9% dose NaCl infusion was given in the control group, 30 mg/kg/h dose propofol infusion was given in the propofol group, and 140 mcg/kg/h dose of thiopental infusion was given in the thiopental group. Blood samples were taken 4 hours after infusion. A craniotomy was performed, the brain was removed, and it was placed in 10% neutral formalin for histological examination. The materials were examined biochemically and histologically and then compared between the groups.

Results: The S100B value between the groups was significantly lower in the thiopental group than in the control group (p=0.018). Tau protein levels were significantly lower in the propofol group than in the control group (p=0.07). In histological examinations, the number of apoptotic cells in the propofol and thiopental groups were significantly lower than in the control group (p=0.02). There was no significant difference between the propofol and thiopental groups in apoptotic cell numbers (p=0.3).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that thiopental and propofol infusions following a head trauma reduced apoptotic cell death and caused a decrease in trauma markers.

Keywords: Head trauma, thiopental, propofol