Effects of halothane, sevoflurane and desflurane on the force-frequency relation in the dog heart in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
Frequency potentiation is the increase in force of contraction induced by an increased heart rate (HR). This positive staircase phenomenon has been attributed to changes in Ca2+ entry and loading of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Volatile anesthetics interfere with Ca2+ homeostasis of cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that frequency potentiation is altered by volatile anesthetics and investigated the influence of halothane (H), sevoflurane (S) and desflurane (D) on the positive staircase phenomenon in dogs in vivo.


METHODS
Dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of left ventricular (LV) pressure and cardiac output. Heart rate was increased by atrial pacing from 120 to 220 beats x min(-1) and the LV maximal rate of pressure increase (dP/dt(max)) was determined as an index of myocardial performance. Measurements were performed in conscious dogs and during anesthesia with 1.0 minimal alveolar concentrations of each of the three inhaled anesthetics.


RESULTS
Increasing HR from 120 to 220 beats x min(-1) increased dP/dt(max) from 3394 +/- 786 (mean +/- SD) to 3798 +/- 810 mmHg sec(-1) in conscious dogs. All anesthetics reduced dP/dt(max) during baseline (at 120 beats x min(-1): H, 1745 +/- 340 mmHg x sec(-1); S, 1882 +/- 418; D, 1928 +/- 454, all P < 0.05 vs awake) but did not influence the frequency potentiation of dP/dt(max) (at 220 beats x min(-1): H, 1981 +/- 587 mmHg x sec(-1); S, 2187 +/- 787; D, 2307 +/- 691). The slope of the regression line correlating dP/dt(max) and HR was not different between awake and anesthetized dogs. Increasing HR did not influence cardiac output in awake or anesthetized dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that volatile anesthetics do not alter the force-frequency relation in dogs in vivo.
Preckel
Benedikt
B
Department of Anesthesiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 22660 H1Z-139, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.preckel@amc.uva.nl
Obal
Detlef
D
Müllenheim
Jost
J
Hennes
Juliane
J
Heiderhoff
Marc
M
Thämer
Volker
V
Schlack
Wolfgang
W
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D000077335:Desflurane; D004285:Dogs; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D006221:Halothane