Esmolol potentiates reduction of minimum alveolar isoflurane concentration by alfentanil.
Esmolol, a short-acting beta1-receptor antagonist, decreases anesthetic requirements during propofol/N2O/morphine anesthesia. This study was designed to determine whether esmolol affects the volatile anesthetic (isoflurane) required to prevent movement to skin incision in 50% patients (minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration [MAC]) with or without an additional opioid (alfentanil). One hundred consenting adult patients were randomly divided into five treatment groups: isoflurane alone (I), I with continuous large-dose (250 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) esmolol (E), I with alfentanil (effect site target of 50 ng/mL) via a continuous computer-controlled infusion (A), A plus continuous small-dose (50 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) esmolol (A1), or A plus large-dose esmolol (A2). Anesthesia was induced via a face mask, and steady-state target end-tidal isoflurane concentrations were maintained before incision. The MAC of isoflurane alone was 1.28% +/- 0.13%. Large-dose esmolol did not significantly alter the isoflurane MAC (1.23% +/- 0.14%). Alfentanil alone significantly decreased isoflurane MAC by 25% (0.96% +/-0.09%). Adding small-dose esmolol did not further decrease MAC with alfentanil (0.96% +/- 0.13%). However, large-dose esmolol significantly decreased isoflurane MAC with alfentanil (0.74% +/- 0.09%). Esmolol and alfentanil both significantly reduced the increases in heart rate and mean arterial pressure associated with endotracheal intubation and incision. The mechanism of this effect is unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
Most anesthetic techniques rely on a balance of several highly selective medications. The current results define a new anesthetic-sparing effect when volatile anesthetic, analgesic, and beta-adrenergic blocking drugs are combined.
Johansen
J W
JW
Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. jayvjohansen@emory.org
Schneider
G
G
Windsor
A M
AM
Sebel
P S
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018681:Anesthetics, General; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D011412:Propanolamines; D015760:Alfentanil; D007530:Isoflurane; C036604:esmolol