Halothane depresses baroreflex control of heart rate in man

Baroreflex control of heart rate was determined during three awake control situations and during two depths of halothane anesthesia in man. Baroreflex function was quantiated by calculating the pressor test slope from the R-R interval change on the ECG produced by a pharmacologically induced pressor response. During the three awake control situations the subjects breathed room air or 100 per cent O2 spontaneously or 100 per cent O2 with ventilation controlled. Mean (+/- SD) slopes obtained were 15.1 +/- 4.5, 15.6 +/- 6.8 and 18.4 +/- 9.9, respectively. No significant difference in baroreflex function slope was observed. During light halothane anesthesia (0.7 per cent endtidal) baroreflex function was significantly depressed (mean slope = 2.5 +/- 1.5), and it was abolished at 1.1 per cent end-tidal halothane (mean slope = 0.03 +/- 0.04). It is concluded that halothane anesthesia produces depression of baroreflex control of heart rate in man.