Hemodynamic effects of desflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia in volunteers

We determined the cardiovascular effects of 0.91, 1.34, and 1.74 MAC of desflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia (60% inspired nitrous oxide contributed 0.5 MAC at each level) in 12 healthy, normocapnic male volunteers. Desflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia decreased systemic blood pressures, cardiac index, stroke volume index, systemic vascular resistance, and left ventricular stroke work index, and increased pulmonary arterial pressures and central venous pressure in a dose-dependent fashion, while heart rate was 10%-12% and mixed venous oxygen tension was 2-4 mm Hg higher at all MAC levels than at baseline (awake). Desflurane/nitrous oxide anesthesia modestly increased left ventricular end-diastolic cross-sectional area (preload) and decreased velocity of left ventricular circumferential fiber shortening, systolic wall stress (afterload), and area ejection fraction; this combination of changes indicates myocardial depression. At approximately comparable MAC levels, heart rate was lower and systemic blood pressures, central venous pressure, left ventricular stroke work index, and systemic vascular resistance usually were significantly higher during anesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxide than during desflurane anesthesia alone (same volunteers, data collected in crossover design). After 7 h of anesthesia, regardless of the background gas, somewhat less cardiovascular depression and/or modest stimulation was apparent: cardiac index, area ejection fraction, and velocity of left ventricular circumferential fiber shortening recovered to or toward awake values, whereas heart rate was further increased. Evidence of circulatory insufficiency did not develop in any volunteers during the study. Segmental left ventricular function was normal at baseline, and no segmental wall-motion abnormalities, ST-segment change, or dysrhythmias developed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)