Sevoflurane as opposed to propofol anesthesia preserves mitochondrial function and alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

•Sevoflurane and propofol have previously been implicated in myocardial protection.•In a non-conditioning protocol only sevoflurane reduced myocardial ischemic injury.•Sevoflurane as opposed to propofol anesthesia preserved mitochondrial respiration.•Propofol anesthesia impeded mitochondrial function during myocardial ischemia.•A higher portion of complex I was in its deactive form during ischemia and sevoflurane anesthesia.