Sevoflurane alters right ventricular performance but not pulmonary vascular resistance in acutely instrumented anesthetized pigs.

OBJECTIVE: Although the effects of halogenated agents on both normal and diseased left ventricles have been widely studied, the influence of these anesthetic agents on right ventricular (RV) performance remains less well characterized. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of 2 different concentrations of sevoflurane on RV function, and coronary and pulmonary hemodynamics in acutely instrumented anesthetized pigs.
DESIGN: Prospective experimental study.
SETTING: Laboratory of experimental research in a university teaching hospital.
SUBJECTS: Anesthetized pigs.
INTERVENTIONS: Regional RV function in 10 pigs was determined from pressure segment length loop analysis, global RV function from stroke work versus end-diastolic pressure relation, right coronary blood flow, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), without and then with 2.6% (minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) and 3.9 % (1.5 MAC) end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations. MAIN
RESULTS: Sevoflurane preserved inflow systolic shortening and RV regional external work, but significantly depressed outflow systolic shortening (p < 0.05). Global RV stroke work was depressed to 72% +/- 12% and 61% +/- 10% of baseline value, respectively, with 1 and 1.5 MAC of sevoflurane (p < 0.05), but without alteration of PVR. Right coronary blood flow decreased dose dependently.
CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane causes significant depression of global RV function associated with a qualitatively different effect on inflow and outflow tracts, without any modification of PVR.