Thoracic epidural anesthesia does not affect functional recovery from myocardial stunning in sevoflurane-anesthetized dogs.
OBJECTIVE
A beneficial effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on recovery from myocardial stunning was previously shown in awake dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TEA on recovery from myocardial stunning in sevoflurane-anesthetized dogs.


METHODS
Randomized animal study.


METHODS
Animal laboratory of a university hospital.


METHODS
Chronically instrumented mongrel dogs.


METHODS
Six dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of hemodynamics and myocardial wall thickening fraction (WTF). The following experiments were performed on separate days in a crossover fashion: (1) 10 minutes of ischemia of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery during sevoflurane anesthesia without TEA and (2) 10 minutes of ischemia during sevoflurane anesthesia with TEA.


RESULTS
WTF was measured awake (baseline) and at predetermined time points until complete recovery of myocardial function occurred. Induction of anesthesia led to a decrease of WTF compared with baseline. Induction of ischemia led to a further decrease of WTF to negative values, which returned to positive values within the first minute of reperfusion. There were no differences between the two experimental conditions at any of the time points measured. In awake dogs, TEA improved the recovery from myocardial stunning compared with the control experiment. There was no difference between conscious dogs with TEA or sevoflurane-anesthetized dogs with or without TEA.


CONCLUSIONS
TEA has no additional protective effect on the recovery of WTF during sevoflurane anesthesia.
Meissner
A
A
Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
Weber
T P
TP
Van Aken
H
H
Weyand
M
M
Booke
M
M
Rolf
N
N
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane