Regional coronary hemodynamics during isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia in patients with ischemic heart disease

The effects of 1.5 MAC isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia on central hemodynamics, regional coronary blood flow, myocardial oxygenation, and lactate balance were investigated in 13 patients with coronary artery disease. Mean arterial pressure was reduced 45% mainly because of systemic vasodilation. Great cardiac venous flow (GCVF) decreased, whereas total coronary sinus blood flow (CSF) was unchanged. Total coronary resistance and resistance in the area drained by the GCVF decreased as did myocardial oxygen extraction, demonstrating coronary vasodilation. The GCVF/CSF ratio did not decrease despite the reduction in resistance to left ventricular ejection. Seven patients had ECG and metabolic indications of myocardial ischemia (lactate extraction reduced from 22 +/- 5% to 7 +/- 3%, P less than 0.02 for the group). Changes in GCVF and oxygen consumption in the corresponding area correlated closely (r = 0.943). However, the regression line was shifted to the left and three patients, who became ischemic, had an increase in GCVF despite unchanged or decreased myocardial oxygen demand. It is concluded that isoflurane may cause coronary blood flow redistribution with regional myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease.