Pulmonary inflammatory mediators after sevoflurane and thiopentone anaesthesia in pigs.
BACKGROUND
Volatile anaesthetics have been shown to affect the release of pulmonary inflammatory mediators and exacerbate pulmonary injury after experimental aspiration. Thus, in theory, volatile anaesthetics may worsen inflammatory pulmonary injury and disease. We have previously described that no significant changes in alveolar ultrastructure are seen after sevoflurane anaesthesia. However, this does not exclude any possible physiological alterations. The aim of our study was to evaluate pulmonary inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) after sevoflurane and thiopentone anaesthesia in pigs with intact lungs.


METHODS
Sixteen pigs were randomly selected to receive either a continuous thiopentone infusion (control group, n = 8) or sevoflurane (n = 8) at 4.0% inspiratory concentration (1.5 MAC) in air for 6 h. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected at the end of the study to determine pulmonary inflammatory markers.


RESULTS
Compared with thiopentone anaesthesia, significant increases in BAL leukotriene C4 (LTC4), NO3-, and NO2- levels were observed after sevoflurane anaesthesia. In addition, there was a significant decrease in total blood leukocyte count in sevoflurane-treated animals.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that sevoflurane increases pulmonary LTC4, NO3-, and NO2- production in pigs, indicating an inflammatory response.
Takala
R S K
RS
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. riikka.takala@tyks.fi
Soukka
H R
HR
Salo
M S
MS
Kirvelä
O A
OA
Kääpä
P O
PO
Rajamäki
A A
AA
Riutta
A
A
Aantaa
R E
RE
D000758:Anesthesia; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013552:Swine; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D016207:Cytokines; D015777:Eicosanoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013874:Thiopental