Cardiovascular and electrophysiologic interactions between diltiazem and isoflurane in the dog

The effects of the calcium entry blocker diltiazem (iv loading dose 0.4 mg/kg, iv maintenance dose 0.4 mg/min) and subsequent isoflurane-induced hypotension to mean aortic pressures of 70 and 55 mmHg on global and regional right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) performance (ultrasonic dimension technique), on coronary (electromagnetic flow probes) and systemic hemodynamics, and on electrophysiologic parameters (PR, QRS, QTc intervals) were studied in eight open-chest dogs, anesthetized and paralyzed by continuous infusions of fentanyl and pancuronium. Diltiazem at a plasma concentration of 282 +/- 33 ng/ml (mean +/- SE) caused significant (P less than 0.05) increases in coronary blood flows, and decreases in coronary and systemic vascular resistances with only little effect on global and regional RV and LV function. However, the PR interval increased by 40%, and three animals developed II degrees atrioventricular block type I. At stable diltiazem plasma levels, administration of isoflurane caused dose-dependent decreases in myocardial segment shortening and stroke volume with unchanged LV or increased RV preload, and little changed RV or reduced LV afterload indicating myocardial depression. Coronary and systemic vascular resistances remained unaffected. At the higher concentration of isoflurane (mean inspired 1.3 +/- 0.2%), seven animals developed intermittent sinus node arrests with pauses up to 12 s followed by intermittent junctional escape or sinus rhythms. Similar interactions might develop in patients on diltiazem receiving isoflurane.