In vitro alteration on erythrocytes mechanical properties by propofol, remifentanil and vecuronium

Several studies report flow disturbance and microcirculation disorders upon anesthesia treatment. These alterations are often related to blood rheology changes. In this work, it was attempted to make a detailed description of the alterations in erythrocyte mechanical properties by the action of propofol, remifentanil, and vecuronium. For this, an in vitro study was performed on red blood cell samples from healthy donors incubated with solutions of propofol (4 μg/mL whole blood), remifentanil (10 ng/mL plasma), and vecuronium (0.15 μg/mL plasma). Erythrocyte viscoelastic parameters were determined by octuplicate using a Reómetro Eritrocitario. Also, a Wilcoxon signed rank-test with Yates correction for continuity was performed to analyze the overall alteration in the mechanical properties of erythrocytes. Statistical analysis showed that the three studied anesthetics changed the erythrocyte mechanical properties at different parts of the membrane. These results would imply an interaction of these anesthetics with the erythrocyte membrane. Finally, this could conduce to alterations in microcirculation. •Erythrocyte viscoelasticity was measured using the Reómetro Eritrocitario.•The three anesthetics would be interacting with the erythrocyte lipid bilayer.•The three studied anesthetics would be interacting with the cytoskeleton protein.•Vecuronium and remifentanil alter the overall viscoelasticity of erythrocytes.