[Effects of sevoflurane on left ventricular diastolic function using transesophageal echocardiography]

The effects of sevoflurane on left ventricular diastolic filling were evaluated using transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in 10 normal subjects. The time-velocity integral of early filling decreased significantly with sevoflurane 1 MAC (7.73 +/- 2.05 to 6.82 +/- 1.90 cm), suggesting impaired left ventricular relaxation. Abnormal left ventricular relaxation results in compensatory increment of peak velocity and time-velocity integral during atrial filling, both of which were significantly decreased by sevoflurane in this study (35.5 +/- 6.6 to 29.1 +/- 4.8 cm.sec-1, 3.22 +/- 0.65 to 2.73 +/- 0.67 cm, respectively). Although the ratio of early peak velocity to late filling velocity was unchanged, it appears that left ventricular diastolic function including active relaxation, passive compliance, atrial contraction, and elastic recoil was impaired by sevoflurane 1 MAC.