Hemodynamic responses to nifedipine in dogs anesthetized with halothane

The interaction of nifedipine and halothane was examined in 19 dogs. Nifedipine (10 micrograms/kg) was infused over 2 min in animals anesthetized with either 1% or 2% halothane. The predominant hemodynamic effect of nifedipine was a short-lived reduction (less than 15 min) in mean blood pressure accompanied by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. During 2% halothane anesthesia hypotension mean blood pressure was greater (P less than 0.05) 15 and 30 min after nifedipine than during 1% halothane. Nifedipine hypotension was initially (2 min) associated with a 23% increase in heart rate and a 22% increase in cardiac output in animals anesthetized with 1% halothane, but during 2% halothane there was no change in heart rate. Changes in dP/dt and contractile force were minimal after nifedipine in both groups. The clinical implications of this study are that nifedipine given during halothane anesthesia may be associated with significant hypotension and that higher concentrations of halothane attenuate the reflex compensatory increase in heart rate. Doses of halothane and nifedipine must be chosen cautiously when the drugs are used together.