Comparative effects of halothane, enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane on function and metabolism in the ischaemic rat heart

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the effects of inhalation anaesthetics on function and metabolism in isolated ischaemic rat hearts. Four volatile anaesthetics in two different concentrations (1.0 to 1.5 MAC) were used before whole heart ischaemia was induced for 15 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min. The data were compared with a control group in which inhalation anaesthetics were not used. Before ischaemia, volatile anaesthetics depressed ventricular function. During reperfusion, ventricular function and coronary flow in both halothane groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. Myocardial ATP concentrations in the 1.0 MAC of enflurane and isoflurane groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. We conclude that halothane had more depressant effects than the other anaesthetics and that enflurane and isoflurane may enhance metabolic recovery in the ischaemic working rat heart.