Adenosine-induced ventricular asystole to induce transient profound systemic hypotension in patients undergoing endovascular therapy. Dose-response characteristics

BACKGROUND: Adenosine-induced asystole has been used to induce transient systemic hypotension for various vascular procedures. Dose-response characteristics of adenosine-induced ventricular asystole have not been determined. METHODS: During endovascular embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations, the authors performed a series of adenosine test injections to establish a dose-response relation in each patient. After an interval of 3-10 min, the dose was escalated by 10-20 mg for each injection to achieve an end point of 20-30 s of stable mean arterial pressure (MAP) reduction to 25-30 mmHg. All patients received constant infusion of nitroprusside (approximately 1 microgram. kg-1. min-1) throughout the procedure. RESULTS: The authors studied four adult patients (age, 22-44 yr; two patients had two separate procedures) and one pediatric patient (age, 4 yr). Twenty-three adenosine injections resulted in measurable asystole. The adenosine dose was 0. 98 +/- 0.40 mg/kg (mean +/- SD), and the dose range was 0.24-1.76 mg/kg (6-90 mg). The duration of asystole, MAP < 30 mmHg, and MAP < 50 mmHg, were 8 +/- 3 s, 18 +/- 12 s, and 50 +/- 29 s, respectively. The minimum MAP and the MAP for the first 20 s were 16 +/- 3 mmHg and 30 +/- 9 mmHg, respectively. There was a linear relation between adenosine dose and the duration of hypotension with MAP < 30 mmHg and MAP < 50 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: In the dose range studied, a series of adenosine test injections can be used to determine optimal adenosine dose for induction of transient profound hypotension.     

Intracarotid Infusion of the Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor, l-NMMA, Modestly Decreases Cerebral Blood Flow in Human Subjects

Background: The authors hypothesized that if nitric oxide (NO) was a determinant of background cerebrovascular tone, intracarotid infusion of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, would decrease cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracarotid l-arginine would reverse its effect.

Methods: In angiographically normal cerebral hemispheres, after the initial dose-escalation studies (protocol 1), the authors determined the effect of intracarotid l-NMMA (50 mg/min for 5 min) on CBF and mean arterial pressure (MAP) over time (protocol 2). Changes in CBF and MAP were then determined at baseline, during l-NMMA infusion, and after l-NMMA during l-arginine infusion (protocol 3). To investigate effects of higher arterial blood concentrations of l-NMMA, changes in CBF and MAP were assessed at baseline and after a bolus dose of l-NMMA (250 mg/1 min), and vascular reactivity was tested by intracarotid verapamil (1 mg/min, protocol 4). CBF changes were also assessed during induced hypertension with intravenous phenylephrine (protocol 5).

Results: Infusion of l-NMMA (50 mg/min for 5 min, n = 7, protocol 2) increased MAP by 17% (86 +/- 8 to 100 +/- 11 mmHg;P < 0.0001) and decreased CBF by 20% (45 +/- 8 to 36 +/- 6 ml [middle dot] 100 g-1 [middle dot] min-1;P < 0.005) for 10 min. Intracarotid l-arginine infusion after l-NMMA (protocol 3) reversed the effect of l-NMMA. Bolus l-NMMA (protocol 4) increased MAP by 20% (80 +/- 11 to 96+/-13 mmHg;P < 0.005), but there was no significant decrease in CBF. Intracarotid verapamil increased CBF by 41% (44+/- 8 to 62 +/- 9 ml [middle dot] 100 g-1 [middle dot] min-1;P < 0.005). Phenylephrine-induced hypertension increased MAP by 20% (79 +/- 9 to 95 +/- 6 mmHg;P = 0.001) but did not affect CBF.     

The Effect of Clonidine on Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity, Carbon Dioxide Cerebral Vasoreactivity, and Response to Increased Arterial Pressure in Human Volunteers

Background: Because patients may be taking clonidine chronically or may be receiving it as a premedication before surgery, the authors investigated its effect on cerebral hemodynamics.

Methods: In nine volunteers, middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity (Vm) was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). CO2 vasoreactivity was measured before clonidine administration (preclonidine), 90 min after clonidine, 5 micro gram/kg yorally, then following restoration of mean arterial pressure (MAP) to the preclonidine level. In addition, Vm was measured after a phenylephrine-induced 30-mmHg increase in MAP.

Results: After clonidine administration, Vm decreased from 62 +/- 9 to 48 +/- 8 cm/s (P < 0.01), and MAP decreased from 86 +/- 10 to 63 +/- 5 mmHg (P < 0.01; mean +/- SD). Clonidine decreased the CO2 vasoreactivity slope from 2.2 +/- 0.4 to 1.2 +/- 0.5 cm [center dot] s sup -1 [center dot] mmHg sup -1 (P < 0.05); restoring MAP to the preclonidine level increased the slope to 1.60 +/- 0.5 cm [center dot] s sup -1 [center dot] mmHg [center dot] sup -1, still less than the preclonidine slope (P < 0.05). CO2 vasoreactivity expressed as a percentage change in Vm, decreased after clonidine, 3.5 +/- 0.8 versus 2.4 +/- 0.8%/mmHg (P < 0.05); this difference disappeared after restoration of MAP, 3.1 +/- 1.2%/mmHg. With a 30-mmHg increase in MAP, Vm increased by 13% before and after clonidine (P < 0.05).     

Differential Effects of Anesthetic Agents on Outcome from Near-complete but Not Incomplete Global Ischemia in the Rat

Background: It has been postulated that anesthetic agents that reduce cerebral metabolic rate will protect the brain against ischemia when electroencephalographic (EEG) activity is persistent, but will provide no protection when ischemia is severe enough to cause EEG isoelectricity. No outcome studies have addressed this issue. The authors studied anesthetic agents to determine if they provide differential effects on outcome from global cerebral ischemic insults that cause either an attenuated or isoelectric EEG.

Methods: Fasted rats were subjected to either (1) incomplete ischemia (attenuated EEG; 20 min of mean arterial pressure [MAP] = 50 mmHg and bilateral carotid occlusion) or (2) near-complete ischemia (isoelectric EEG; 10 min of MAP = 30 mmHg and bilateral carotid occlusion) while anesthetized with 1.4% isoflurane, 1 mg [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 ketamine, or 25 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] h-1 70% nitrous oxide and fentanyl. The brain was maintained at normothermia during ischemia and for 22 h after ischemia. Five days later, hippocampal CA1 and cortical injury were measured.

Results: There was no difference among anesthetic agents during incomplete ischemia for mean +/- SD percentage dead CA1 neurons (fentanyl, 38% +/- 20%; isoflurane, 31% +/- 10%; ketamine, 40% +/- 19%; P = 0.38). During near-complete ischemia, there was a difference among anesthetic agents (fentanyl, 88% +/- 9%; isoflurane, 37% +/- 20%; ketamine, 70% +/- 28%; P = 0.00008). Isoflurane was protective compared with fentanyl (P = 0.00007) and ketamine (P = 0.0061). There was no difference between fentanyl and ketamine (P = 0.143). Similar observations were made in the cortex. Neurologic function correlated with histologic damage.     

Pretreatment or Resuscitation with a Lipid Infusion Shifts the Dose-Response to Bupivacaine-induced Asystole in Rats

Background: The authors sought to confirm a chance observation that intravenous lipid treatment increases the dose of bupivacaine required to produce asystole in rats. The authors also measured the partitioning of bupivacaine between the lipid and aqueous phases of a plasma-lipid emulsion mixture.

Methods: Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were used in pretreatment (protocol 1) and resuscitation (protocol 2) experiments. In protocol 1, animals were pretreated with saline or 10%, 20%, or 30% Intralipid (n = 6 for all groups), then received 0.75% bupivacaine hydrochloride at a rate of 10 ml [center dot] kg [center dot] min sup -1 to asystole. In protocol 2, mortality was compared over a range of bolus doses of bupivacaine after resuscitation with either saline or 30% Intralipid (n = 6 for all groups). The lipid:aqueous partitioning of bupivacaine in a mixture of plasma and Intralipid was measured using radiolabeled bupivacaine.

Results: Median doses of bupivacaine (in milligrams per kilogram) producing asystole in protocol I were for 17.7 for saline, 27.6 for 10% Intralipid, 49.7 for 20% Intralipid, and 82.0 for 30% Intralipid (P <0.001 for differences between all groups). Differences in mean +/- SE concentrations of bupivacaine in plasma (in micrograms per milliliter) were significant (P < 0.05) for the difference between saline (93.3 +/- 7.6) and 30% Intralipid (212 +/- 45). In protocol 2, lipid infusion increased the dose of bupivacaine required to cause death in 50% of animals by 48%, from 12.5 to 18.5 mg/kg. The mean lipid:aqueous ratio of concentrations of bupivacaine in a plasma-Intralipid mixture was 11.9 +/- 1.77 (n = 3).     

Dose-Response Relationship and Infusion Requirement of Cisatracurium Besylate in Infants and Children during Nitrous Oxide-Narcotic Anesthesia

Background: To determine the effect of age on the dose-response relation and infusion requirement of cisatracurium besylate in pediatric patients, 32 infants (mean age, 0.7 yr; range, 0.3-1.0 yr) and 32 children (mean age, 4.9 yr; range, 3.1-9.6 yr) were studied during thiopentone-nitrous oxide-oxygen-narcotic anesthesia.

Methods: Potency was determined using a single-dose (20, 26, 33, or 40 [mu]g/kg) technique. Neuromuscular block was assessed by monitoring the electromyographic response of the adductor pollicis to supramaximal train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve at 2 Hz.

Results: Least-squares linear regression analysis of the log-probit transformation of dose and maximal response yielded median effective dose (ED50) and 95% effective dose (ED95) values for infants (29 +/- 3 [mu]g/kg and 43 +/- 9 [mu]g/kg, respectively) that were similar to those for children (29 +/- 2 [mu]g/kg and 47 +/- 7 [mu]g/kg, respectively). The mean infusion rate necessary to maintain 90-99% neuromuscular block during the first hour in infants (1.9 +/- 0.4 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1; range: 1.3-2.5 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) was similar to that in children (2.0 +/- 0.5 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1; range: 1.3-2.9 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1).     

Alterations in Canine Left Ventricular-arterial Coupling and Mechanical Efficiency Produced by Propofol

Background: Propofol reduces blood pressure by decreasing left ventricular (LV) afterload and myocardial contractility. This investigation tested the hypothesis that propofol preserves LV-arterial coupling and mechanical efficiency because of these simultaneous hemodynamic actions.

Methods: Experiments were conducted in open-chest dogs (n = 8) instrumented for measurement of aortic and LV pressure, dP/dtmax, and LV volume. Myocardial contractility was assessed with the slope (E sub es) of the LV end systolic pressure-volume relationship. Effective arterial elastance (Ea; the ratio of end systolic arterial pressure to stroke volume), stroke work (SW), and pressure-volume area (PVA) were determined from the LV pressure-volume relationships. Dogs were studied 30 min after instrumentation and after 15-min intravenous infusions of propofol at 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1.

Results: Propofol caused dose-dependent decreases in Ees (4.7 +/- 0.9 during control to 2.7 +/- 0.5 mmHg/ml during the high dosage) and dP/dtmax, indicating a direct negative inotropic effect. Ea increased at the 10 mg [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1 dose of propofol but decreased at higher dosages. Propofol decreased the ratio of Ees to Ea (0.88 +/- 0.13 during control to 0.56 +/- 0.10 during the high dosage), consistent with impairment of LV-arterial coupling. Propofol also reduced the ratio SW to PVA (0.54 +/- 0.03 during control to 0.45 +/- 0.03 during the 20 mg [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1), suggesting a decline in LV mechanical efficiency. SW and PVA recovered toward baseline values at the 40 mg [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1 dose.     

Graded Hypercapnia and Cerebral Autoregulation during Sevoflurane or Propofol Anesthesia

Background: Hypercapnia abolishes cerebral autoregulation, but little is known about the interaction between hypercapnia and autoregulation during general anesthesia. With normocapnia, sevoflurane (up to 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration) and propofol do not impair cerebral autoregulation. This study aimed to document the level of hypercapnia required to impair cerebral autoregulation during propofol or sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: Eight healthy subjects received a remifentanil infusion and were anesthetized with propofol (140 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) and sevoflurane (1.0-1.1% end tidal) in a randomized crossover study. Ventilation was adjusted to achieve incremental increases in arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (Paco2) until autoregulation was impaired. Cerebral autoregulation was tested by increasing the mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 80 to 100 mmHg with phenylephrine while measuring middle cerebral artery flow velocity by transcranial Doppler. The autoregulation index, which has a value ranging from 0 to 1, representing absent to perfect autoregulation, was calculated, and an autoregulation index of 0.4 or less represented significantly impaired autoregulation.

Results: The threshold Paco2 to significantly impair cerebral autoregulation ranged from 50 to 66 mmHg. The threshold averaged 56 +/- 4 mmHg (mean +/- SD) during sevoflurane anesthesia and 61 +/- 4 mmHg during propofol anesthesia (P = 0.03). Carbon dioxide reactivity measured at a MAP of 100 mmHg was 30% greater than that at a MAP of 80 mmHg.     

Epidural Anesthesia and Acutely Increased Intracranial Pressure: Lumbar Epidural Space Hydrodynamics in a Porcine Model

Background: The effects of epidural injection on intracranial pressure (ICP), lumbar epidural pressure, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) were studied after acutely increased ICP in swine.

Methods: Twenty pigs, anesthetized with isoflurane and mechanically ventilated to maintain normocarbia, had two Tuohy needles placed in the lumbar epidural space. The ICP, lumbar epidural pressure, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and central venous pressure were monitored. All animals had a Fogarty catheter placed in the parietal epidural space. Six pigs were randomized to a normal ICP group (group N) and eight pigs to an increased ICP group by inflation of the Fogarty catheter balloon (group R). Each pig had 0.33 ml [centered dot] kg sup -1 of 2.0% carbonated lidocaine injected over 20 s via an epidural needle placed at L3. The ICP and lumbar epidural pressure were then monitored continuously for 30 min. Pressure-time data were fit to traditional compartmental models. Epidural elastance and resistance were calculated using a derivation of the Windkessel theory. An additional six pigs had ICP elevated as in group R and CBF and SCBF measured using radioactive microspheres at five time periods: baseline, 0-60 s, 100-160 s, 200-260 s, and at 30 min after epidural injection.

Results: The animals did not differ with respect to heart rate, central venous pressure, or mean arterial pressure at baseline. The ICP was 10 +/- 2 mmHg in group N, and 24 +/- 2 mmHg after balloon inflation in group R. After epidural injection, peak ICP was significantly greater in group R (76 +/- 22 vs. 54 +/- 17 mmHg) but not different by 30 min (17 +/- 5 vs. 11 +/- 1 mmHg). Epidural elastance in group N was 8.3 +/- 3.1 mmHg [centered dot] ml sup -1 and 12.8 +/- 3.0 mmHg [centered dot] ml sup -1 in group R (P = 0.045). Epidural resistance was 1,330 +/- 590 mmHg [centered dot] s [centered dot] ml sup -1 in group N and 2,220 +/- 600 mmHg [centered dot] s [centered dot] ml sup -1 in group R (P = 0.038). The CBF and SCBF were less than 10% of baseline during the 0- to 60-s time period after epidural injection. Thereafter, CBF and SCBF did not differ from baseline values.     

Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Administration Reduces Propofol Infusion Requirements during Maintenance of Propofol-N2O Anesthesia: Part I: Comparing Propofol Requirements According to Hemodynamic Responses: Part II: Comparing Bispectral Index in Control and Magnesium Groups

Background: The authors investigated whether an intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate reduces propofol infusion requirements during maintenance of propofol-N2O anesthesia.

Methods: Part I study: 54 patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups (n = 27 per group). The patients in the control group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution, whereas the patients in the magnesium group received magnesium (50 mg/kg as a bolus, then 8 mg [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] h-1). To maintain mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) at baseline value, the propofol infusion rate was changed when the MAP or the HR changed. The amount of propofol infused excluding the bolus dosage was divided by patient's body weight and total infusion time. Part II study: Another 20 patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10 per group). When the MAP and HR had been maintained at baseline value and the propofol infusion rate had been maintained at 80 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 (magnesium group) and 160 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 (control group), bispectral index (BIS) values were measured.

Results: Part I: The mean propofol infusion rate in the magnesium group (81.81 +/- 13.09 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) was significantly less than in the control group (167.57 +/- 47.27). Part II: BIS values in the control group (40.70 +/- 3.89) were significantly less than those in the magnesium group (57.80 +/- 7.32).     

Sex-related Differences in the Influence of Morphine on Ventilatory Control in Humans

Background: Opiate agonists have different analgesic effects in male and female patients. The authors describe the influence of sex on the respiratory pharmacology of the micro-receptor agonist morphine.

Methods: The study was placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized. Steady-state ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide and responses to a step into hypoxia (duration, 3 min; oxygen saturation, [approximately] 82%; end-tidal carbon dioxide tension, 45 mmHg) were obtained before and during intravenous morphine or placebo administration (bolus dose of 100 micro gram/kg, followed by a continuous infusion of 30 micro gram [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1) in 12 men and 12 women.

Results: In women, morphine reduced the slope of the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide from 1.8 +/- 0.9 to 1.3 +/- 0.7 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] mmHg sup -1 (mean +/- SD; P < 0.05), whereas in men there was no significant effect (control = 2.0 +/- 0.4 vs. morphine = 1.8 +/- 0.4 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] mmHg sup -1). Morphine had no effect on the apneic threshold in women (control = 33.8 +/- 3.8 vs. morphine = 35.3 +/- 5.3 mmHg), but caused an increase in men from 34.5 +/- 2.3 to 38.3 +/- 3 mmHg, P < 0.05). Morphine decreased hypoxic sensitivity in women from 1.0 +/- 0.5 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] % sup -1 to 0.5 +/- 0.4 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] % sup -1 (P < 0.05) but did not cause a decrease in men (control = 1.0 +/- 0.5 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] % sup -1 vs. morphine = 0.9 +/- 0.5 l [center dot] min sup -1 [center dot] % sup -1). Weight, lean body mass, body surface area, and calculated fat mass differed between the sexes, but their inclusion in the analysis as a covariate revealed no influence on the differences between men and women in morphine-induced changes.     

Cerebrovascular CO2 Reactivity during Anesthesia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and systemic atherosclerosis are risk factors for stroke. Although the origins of increased risk are complex, one possibility is that cerebrovascular reactivity is impaired and does not allow the brain to compensate for aberrations in physiology. The current study tested this issue by evaluating mean blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (Vmca) and carbon dioxide reactivity during anesthesia in patients with DM and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Methods: Fifty-two patients were observed: 20 patients with DM (the DM group), 12 patients with PVD (the PVD group), and 20 patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2 (the control group). The Vmca was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography during isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia. After measuring baseline Vmca at a partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) of 37.7 +/- 4.5 mmHg (mean +/- SD), measurements were repeated at a PaCO (2) of 44.2 +/- 3.8 mmHg, and the carbon dioxide reactivity (absolute value: cm [middle dot] s-1 [middle dot] mmHg-1; relative value: percentage of baseline Vmca/mmHg) was calculated.

Results: The baseline Vmca of the DM group (51 +/- 12 cm/s) was significantly greater than those of the control group (42 +/- 6 cm/s) and the PVD group (42 +/- 13 cm/s). The absolute and relative values of carbon dioxide reactivity in the DM group (3.1 +/- 1.3 cm [middle dot] s-1 [middle dot] mmHg-1; 6.3 +/- 2.4%/mmHg) were significantly greater than or equivalent to those of the control group (2.3 +/- 0.8 cm [middle dot] s (-1) [middle dot] mmHg-1; 5.3 +/- 1.7%/mmHg), respectively. In the PVD group, the baseline Vmca was equivalent to the control group, but the carbon dioxide reactivity (1.1 +/- 0.5 cm [middle dot] s-1 [middle dot] mmHg (-1); 2.8 +/- 1.2%/mmHg) was significantly less.     

Sex Differences in Morphine-induced Ventilatory Depression Reside within the Peripheral Chemoreflex Loop

Background: This study gathers information in humans on the sites of sex-related differences in ventilatory depression caused by the [micro sign]-opioid receptor agonist morphine.

Methods: Experiments were performed in healthy young men (n = 9) and women (n = 7). Dynamic ventilatory responses to square-wave changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (7.5-15 mmHg) and step decreases in end-tidal oxygen tension (step from 110 to 50 mmHg, duration of hypoxia 15 min) were obtained before and during morphine infusion (intravenous bolus dose 100 [micro sign]g/kg, followed by 30 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] h-1). Each hypercapnic response was separated into a fast peripheral and slow central component, which yield central (Gc) and peripheral (Gp) carbon dioxide sensitivities. Values are mean +/- SD.

Results: In carbon dioxide studies in men, morphine reduced Gc from 1.61 +/- 0.33 to 1.23 +/- 0.12 l [middle dot] mmHg-1 (P < 0.05) without affecting Gp (control, 0.41 +/- 0.16 and morphine, 0.49 +/- 0.12 l [middle dot] [middle dot] min-1 [middle dot] mmHg-1, not significant). In carbon dioxide studies in women, morphine reduced Gc, from 1.51 +/- 0.74 to 1.17 +/- 0.52 l [middle dot] min-1 [middle dot] mmHg-1 (P < 0.05), and Gp, from 0.54 +/- 0.19 to 0.39 +/- 0.22 l [middle dot] min-1 [middle dot] mmHg-1 (P < 0.05). Morphine-induced changes in Gc were equal in men and women; changes in Gp were greater in women. In hypoxic studies, morphine depressed the hyperventilatory response at the initiation of hypoxia more in women than in men (0.54 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.34 l [middle dot] min-1 [middle dot] %-1, respectively; P < 0.05). The ventilatory response to sustained hypoxia (i.e., 15 min) did not differ between men and women.     

Microvascular Oxygen Delivery and Interstitial Oxygenation during Sodium Pentobarbital Anesthesia

Background: Anesthesia may represent a considerable bias in experimental medicine, particularly in conditions of stress (such as hemorrhage). Sodium pentobarbital (PB), widely used for cardiovascular investigations, may impair oxygen delivery by hemodynamic and respiratory depression. The critical issue, however, is whether the microcirculation can still maintain tissue oxygenation during anesthesia. To answer this question, the authors studied the effect of PB anesthesia on subcutaneous microvascular oxygen delivery and interstitial oxygenation in Syrian golden hamsters.

Methods: Sodium pentobarbital anesthesia was induced by intravenous injection (30 mg/kg body weight) and maintained by a 15-min infusion (2 mg [center dot] kg-1 [center dot] min-1), with animals breathing spontaneously (PB-S) or ventilated with air (PB-V). Systemic parameters evaluated were mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, cardiac index (CI), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), base excess, and pH. Microvascular and interstitial oxygen tension (PO2), vessel diameter, red blood cell velocity (upsilonRBC), and blood flow (Qb) were measured in a dorsal skinfold preparation. Microcirculatory PO2 values were determined by phosphorescence decay.

Results: Sodium pentobarbital anesthesia significantly decreased CI, MAP, upsilonRBC, and Qb. During PB infusion, PaO2 values were 56 +/- 12.8 mmHg (PB-S) and 115.9 +/- 14.6 mmHg (PB-V) compared with 69.4 +/- 18.2 mmHg and 61.4 +/- 12.6 mmHg at baseline. However, microvascular PO2 was reduced by 25-55% in both groups, resulting in an interstitial PO2 decrease from 23.9 +/- 5.6 mmHg (control) to 13.1 +/- 9.1 mmHg (PB-S) and 15.2 +/- 7 mmHg (PB-V). Microcirculatory PO2 values were restored 30 min after PB infusion, even though hemodynamic depression and a light anesthetic plane were maintained.     

Remifentanil Requirements during Sevoflurane Administration to Block Somatic and Cardiovascular Responses to Skin Incision in Children and Adults

Background: The authors found no studies comparing intraoperative requirements of opioids between children and adults, so they determined the infusion rate of remifentanil to block somatic (IR50) and autonomic response (IRBAR50) to skin incision in children and adults.

Methods: Forty-one adults (aged 20-60 yr) and 24 children (aged 2-10 yr) undergoing lower abdominal surgery were studied. In adults, anesthesia induction was with sevoflurane during remifentanil infusion, whereas in children remifentanil administration was started after induction with sevoflurane. After intubation, sevoflurane was administered in 100% O2 and was adjusted to an ET% of 1 MAC-awake corrected for age at least 15 min before surgery. Patients were randomized to receive remifentanil at a rate ranging from 0.05 to 0.35 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 for at least 20 min before surgery. At the beginning of surgery, only the skin incision was performed, and the somatic and autonomic responses were observed. The somatic response was defined as positive with any gross movement of extremity, and the autonomic response was deemed positive with any increase in heart rate or mean arterial pressure equal to or more than 10% of preincision values. Using logistic regression, the IR50 and IRBAR50 were determined in both groups of patients and compared with unpaired Student t test. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The IR50 +/- SD was 0.10 +/- 0.02 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 in adults and 0.22 +/- 0.03 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 in children (P < 0.001). The IRBAR50 +/- SD was 0.11 +/- 0.02 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 in adults and 0.27 +/- 0.06 [mu]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 in children (P < 0.001).     

Effect of Flumazenil on Ventilatory Drive during Sedation with Midazolam and Alfentanil

Background: Patients who receive a combination of a benzodiazepine and an opioid for conscious sedation are at risk for developing respiratory depression. While flumazenil effectively antagonizes the respiratory depression associated with a benzodiazepine alone, its efficacy in the presence of both a benzodiazepine and an opioid has not been established. This study was designed to determine whether flumazenil can reverse benzodiazepine-induced depression of ventilatory drive in the presence of an opioid.

Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide and to isocapnic hypoxia were determined during four treatment phases: (1) baseline, (2) alfentanil infusion; (3) combined midazolam and alfentanil infusions, and (4) combined alfentanil, midazolam, and "study drug" (consisting of either flumazenil or flumazenil vehicle) infusions. Subjects returned 2-6 weeks later to receive the alternate study drug.

Results: Alfentanil decreased the slope of the carbon dioxide response curve from 2.14 +/- 0.40 to 1.43 +/- 0.19 l [dot] min sup -1 [dot] mmHg sup -1 (x +/- SE, P < 0.05), and decreased the minute ventilation at PET CO2 = 50 mmHg (V with dotE 50) from 19.7 +/- 1.2 to 14.8 +/- 0.9 l [dot] min sup -1 (P < 0.05). Midazolam further reduced these variables to 0.87 +/- 0.17 l [dot] min sup -1 [dot] mmHg sup -1 (P < 0.05) and 11.7 +/- 0.8 l [dot] min sup -1 (P <0.05), respectively. With addition of flumazenil, slope and V with dot sub E 50 increased to 1.47 +/- 0.37 l [dot] min sup -1 [dot] mmHg sup -1 (P < 0.05) and 16.4 +/- 2.0 l [dot] min sup -1 (P < 0.05); after placebo, the respective values of 1.02 +/- 0.19 l [dot] min sup -1 [dot] mmHg sup -1 and 12.5 +/- 1.2 l [dot] min sup -1 did not differ significantly from their values during combined alfentanil and midazolam administration. The effect of flumazenil differed significantly from that of placebo (P < 0.05). Both the slope and the displacement of the hypoxic ventilatory response, measured at PET CO2 = 46 +/- 1 mmHg, were affected similarly, with flumazenil showing a significant improvement compared to placebo.     

Ketamine Decreases Intracranial Pressure and Electroencephalographic Activity in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients during Propofol Sedation

Background: The potential adverse effects of ketamine in neurosurgical anesthesia have been well established and involve increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral blood flow. However, reexamination of ketamine is warranted because data regarding the effects of ketamine on cerebral hemodynamics are conflicting.

Methods: Eight patients with traumatic brain injury were studied. In all patients, ICP monitoring was instituted before the study. Control of ICP (less than 25 mmHg), hemodynamic values, and blood gas tension (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood between 35-38 mmHg) was obtained with propofol infusion (3 mg [center dot] kg sup -1 [center dot] h sup -1) and mechanical ventilation. The effects of three doses of ketamine, 1.5, 3, and 5 mg/ kg, respectively, on ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, jugular vein bulb oxygen saturation, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, and electric activity of the brain (EEG) were measured. The three doses were administered intravenously at 6-h intervals over 30 s through a central venous line. Systemic and cerebral hemodynamics and end-tidal carbon dioxide were continuously monitored and recorded at 1-min intervals throughout the 30-min study periods.

Results: Ketamine, in all three doses studied (1.5, 3, and 5 mg/kg) was associated with a significant decrease in ICP (mean +/- SD: 2 +/- 0.5 mmHg [P < 0.05], 4 +/- 1 mmHg [P < 0.05], and 5 +/- 2 mmHg [P < 0.05]) among the study patients regardless of the ketamine dose used. There were no significant differences in cerebral perfusion pressure, jugular vein bulb oxygen saturation, and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity. Ketamine induced a low-amplitude fast-activity electroencephalogram, with marked depression, such as burst suppression.     

Comparison of Adenosine and Remifentanil Infusions as Adjuvants to Desflurane Anesthesia

Background: Because adenosine has been alleged to produce both anesthetic and analgesic sparing effects, a randomized, double-blinded study was designed to compare the perioperative effects of adenosine and remifentanil when administered as intravenous adjuvants during general anesthesia for major gynecologic procedures.

Methods: Thirty-two women were assigned randomly to one of two drug treatment groups. After premedication with 0.04 mg/kg intravenous midazolam, anesthesia was induced with 2 [micro sign]g/kg intravenous fentanyl, 1.5 mg/kg intravenous propofol, and 0.6 mg/kg intravenous rocuronium, and maintained with desflurane, 2%, and nitrous oxide, 65%, in oxygen. Before skin incision, an infusion of either remifentanil (0.02 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) or adenosine (25 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) was started and subsequently titrated to maintain systolic blood pressure, heart rate, or both within 10-15% of the preincision values.

Results: Adenosine and remifentanil infusions were effective anesthetic adjuvants during lower abdominal surgery. Use of adenosine (mean +/- SEM, 166 +/- 17 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1) was associated with a significantly greater decrease in systolic blood pressure and higher heart rate values compared with remifentanil (mean +/- SEM, 0.2 +/- 0.03 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1). Total postoperative opioid analgesic use was 45% and 27% lower in the adenosine group at 0-2 h and 2-24 h after surgery, respectively.     

Prophylactic Angiotensin II Infusion during Spinal Anesthesia for Elective Cesarean Delivery

Background: Angiotensin II may prove useful in treating regional anesthesia-induced hypotension in obstetric patients, because it causes less uterine vasoconstriction than do other vasoconstrictor drugs (such as phenylephrine). This study compared (1) maternal blood pressure and heart rate and (2) fetal status at delivery in parturients given either prophylactic angiotensin II or ephedrine infusion during spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery.

Methods: Fifty-four women were randomized to receive either angiotensin II or ephedrine infusion intravenously during spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section delivery. Simultaneous with subarachnoid injection, infusion of angiotensin II (2.5 [micro sign]g/ml) or ephedrine (5 mg/ml) was initiated at 10 ng [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1 and 50 [micro sign]g [middle dot] kg-1 [middle dot] min-1, respectively. The rate of each infusion was adjusted to maintain maternal systolic blood pressure at 90-100% of baseline.

Results: Cumulative vasopressor doses (mean +/- SD) through 10, 20, and 30 min were 150 +/- 100, 310 +/- 180, and 500 +/- 320 ng/kg in the angiotensin group and 480 +/- 210, 660 +/- 390, and 790 +/- 640 [micro sign]g/kg in the ephedrine group. Maternal heart rate was significantly higher (P < 0.001) during vasopressor infusion in the ephedrine group than in the angiotensin group. Umbilical arterial and venous blood pH and base excess were all significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the angiotensin group than in the ephedrine group.     

Captopril reduces the dose requirement for sodium nitroprusside induced hypotension

The authors studied 12 patients who required deliberate hypotension for spinal fusion operations in order to investigate the efficacy of captopril for reducing dose requirement for sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Six patients, selected at random, were pretreated with captopril, 3 mg/kg po, and the remaining six patients served as controls. All patients received a similar anesthetic technique, consisting of thiopental 3 mg/kg, pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg, morphine 0.5 mg/kg, plus nitrous oxide 70% in oxygen. SNP was used to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 50-55 mmHg during deliberate hypotension lasting 140 +/- 13 minutes (mean +/- SE). Patients who received captopril required less SNP than untreated patients both early during hypotension (1.4 +/- 0.5 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 vs. 4.8 +/- 0.8 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1, P less than 0.05), as well as late during hypotension (2.2 +/- 0.2 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.6 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1, P less than 0.05). Whole blood cyanide was significantly lower in the patients pretreated with captopril than the untreated controls both early in the hypotensive period (2.7 +/- 0.6 mumol/l vs. 13 +/- 4 mumol/l, P less than 0.05) and also late in the hypotensive period (3.7 +/- 0.8 mumol/l vs. 30 +/- 10 mumol/l, P less than 0.05). MAP was reduced by captopril pretreatment both following induction of anesthesia (64 +/- 4 mmHg captopril vs. 80 +/- 4 mmHg control, P less than 0.05) and during surgery before deliberate hypotension (86 +/- 5 mmHg captopril vs. 100 +/- 4 control, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)