Blood anesthetic levels during surface-induced deep hypothermia under halothane-diethyl ether azeotrope anesthesia

Blood anesthetic concentration and clinical indicators related to anesthetic management during surface-induced deep hypothermia were determined in seven adult mongrel dogs. The azeotrope of halothane and diethyl ether was assayed by gas chromatography. Blood concentration of halothane ranged from a pre-cooling control of 0.74 vol % to 0.11 vol % at 20 degrees C rewarming; ether ranged from 0.06 vol % at 20 degrees C rewarming to 0.22 vol % at 35 degrees C rewarming. Administration of anesthetic was reduced during cooling because of the spontaneous decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. After elective circulatory arrest was induced, anesthetic was not required until after cardiac resuscitation at about 22 degrees C rewarming. Initial clinical signs indicating a need to increase administration of anesthetic included spontaneous respiration and an increase in mean arterial pressure. Blood azeotrope concentration was significantly lower during rewarming than at comparable temperatures during cooling. We conclude that blood concentration of halothane and ether changes as a function of body temperature and that anesthetic demand may be diminished following total circulatory arrest.