Effects of desflurane on the pig intestinal circulation during hypotension.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to analyze the perfusion pressure dependency for the splanchnic vascular effects of desflurane (DES).


METHODS
We measured portal blood flow (QPORT, perivascular ultrasound) and jejunal mucosal perfusion (JMP; laser Doppler) in pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs (n=10). Experimentally, decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) were produced by pericardial infusions of dextran. The protocol included sets of measurements at incremental doses of DES (1, 2, 4 and 6%) prior to and during pericardial infusions.


RESULTS
Although QPORT and JMP decreased significantly during pericardial infusions, DES, irrespective of dose, did not reduce QPORT until MAP had decreased below 65-70 mm Hg. In higher MAP ranges, vasodilation in pre-portal tissues was powerful enough to maintain QPORT in spite of concurrent decreases in driving arterial pressure, as produced by either DES or pericardial infusion, or by a combination of both. We found no effects of DES on JMP even at very low MAP (about 40 mm Hg during pericardial infusion), indicating that the normal physiological response of the small intestine to redistribute blood flow from deeper to more superficial layers during hypotension was unimpaired by DES.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a wide dose-tolerability of DES as regards the splanchnic circulation during hypotensive states.
Sundeman
H
H
Department of Anesthesiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Aneman
A
A
Broomé
M
M
Haney
M
M
Johansson
G
G
Häggmark
S
S
Biber
B
B
Winsö
O
O
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D000077335:Desflurane; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007022:Hypotension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000098:blood supply; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D010100:Oxygen