Introduction: Propofl is an anesthetic drug which has shown many other effects in different studies. The purpose of this study has been evaluation of non-anesthetic properties of propofol in skin flap survival in rats.

Materials and methods: Thirty two adult female white rats were randomly divided into two groups. In Group 1, anesthesia with ketamine (40mg/kg) and group 2 anesthesia with propofol (100 mg / kg) was performed intraperitoneally (IP). The skin on the back of rats (2.5 × 8 × 8 cm) was prepared aseptically. Full-thickness skin was removed in three parts and returned to the original location immediately. The skin was sutured with single interrupted pattern and nylon 0/5. Survival rate of the skin flaps were evaluated daily. Histopathological evaluation by a blind pathologist at 1, 4, 7 and 21 days was done. Interleukin 1 and 6 in blood samples before and after creation of flaps was measured at 12, 24 and 168 hours following euthanasia.

Results: Flap survival rate at day 21 and IL-6 at day 0, 12 hour and day 1 in propofol group were significantly higher than ketamine group and IL-1 was not significantly different. The amount of collagen deposition at days 1 and 7, epithelialization at days 1 and 4, fibroblast proliferation at day 21 and vascularity at days 4, 7 and 21 in propofol group were significantly more than ketamine, but the inflammatory cells infiltration at day 7 in propofol group was less than ketamine. Pathological signs of healing were more prominent in propofol group.

Conclusion: It is concluded that propofol has more restorative effect on skin flap survival in comparison with ketamine, but its definite confirmation needs more precisely researches.