Effects of mechanical ventilation and halothane on pulmonary serotonin removal in dogs

The type of anesthesia and anesthetic drug used may significantly change the capacity of the lungs to regulate blood concentrations of serotonin. This study was performed to examine the possible effect of mechanical ventilation and 1% halothane in ventilation air on pulmonary serotonin removal using C14-serotonin in eight dogs. Mechanical ventilation significantly increased serotonin removal when compared with spontaneous ventilation during anesthesia, the removal rates being 74.4% and 48.4%, respectively. The 1% halothane concentration in ventilation air did not significantly affect the pulmonary serotonin removal. It was concluded that mechanical ventilation protects the organism against harmful cardiovascular effects of serotonin during anesthesia.