[The anesthesiologist and the hemodynamic effect of anti-arrhythmic agents (excluding beta blockers)]

On the basis of a haemodynamic study involving the intravenous administration of disopyramide, a review is undertaken of the haemodynamic action of various anti-arrhythmics likely to be used pre- or peroperatively by the anaesthetist. All anti-arrhythmic agents have possible haemodynamic properties which may prove troublesome for the anaesthetist: --all (with the possible exception of bretylium tosylate) have negative inotropic properties; --all (with the exception of disopyramide) decrease peripheral resistance. These effects are as a rule slight in the healthy subject but may give rise to difficulties during anaesthesia of a patient with a damaged myocardium.