Physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology of the coronary circulation with particular emphasis on anesthetics

The normal control of coronary blood flow is through alterations in the resistance of the intramyocardial arterioles (R2). Myocardial cellular hypoxia causes increased breakdown of ATP (or decreases synthesis) resulting in increased concentrations of the purine metabolite, adenosine. This potent endogenous, vascular smooth muscle relaxant vasodilates the R2 arterioles increasing coronary blood flow and myocardial O2 delivery. This mechanism autoregulates coronary blood flow according to myocardial O2 needs. Myocardial hypertrophy (from chronic hypertension) or coronary atherosclerosis interfere with this process and result in myocardial ischemia which may cause symptoms (angina), signs (ECG changes, regional muscle dysfunction) or tissue death (myocardial infarction). In addition, coronary atheroma disrupt endothelial function in the large R1 coronary arteries predisposing to vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Therapeutic measures for controlling ischemia may include decreasing oxygen demand (especially heart rate) and maintaining supply (R1 vasodilators and anti-thrombotic drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories). Intravenous, most inhalational and regional anesthesia appear to interfere minimally in the control of both the normal and ischemic coronary circulation. Thus optimizing myocardial oxygen balance (maintaining supply and decreasing demand) during anesthesia protects the ischemic myocardium. High doses of isoflurane, sevoflurane or desflurane are potent R2 coronary vasodilators which may cause redistribution of collateral blood flow away from ischemic regions (coronary steal). However, if tachycardia and hypotension are avoided, such an effect has not been shown experimentally or clinically. Preliminary evidence suggests that halothane may preferentially dilate R1 arteries and/or interfere with platelet aggregation. If these effects are confirmed, then halothane may prove to be the anesthetic of choice in the non-failing ischemic heart.