Cardiovascular haemodynamics during enflurane-pancuronium anaesthesia in patients with valvular heart disease

The effects of enflurane-pancuronium anaesthesia on cardiovascular haemodynamics were studied before operation in six patients with valvular heart disease. A ten per cent decline in cardiac index and a 20 per cent decline in stroke volume were the only changes observed. Mean arterial, pulmonary arterial, contral venous, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures were unaffected, as were systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance. The authors therefore conclude that enflurane-pancuronium anaesthesia causes only minimal cardiovascular depression in patients with valvular heart disease.