A comparison of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship for halothane and isoflurane at haemodynamically equivalent end-tidal concentrations in the rabbit.

The cerebral pressure-flow relationship for halothane and isoflurance was studied at end-tidal concentrations which resulted in similar baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP). Two groups of New Zealand white rabbits (n = 8; each group) were studied with five regional blood flow determinations in each animal. Blood flow was determined by injecting radioactive microspheres during the following conditions: injection 1: after stable 2.05 per cent end-tidal isoflurane (1.0 MAC) Group I; or after stable 0.74 +/- 0.04 per cent end-tidal halothane (0.53 MAC) Group H. Injections 2-5: after MAP was increased 20, 40, 60, and 80 per cent respectively above baseline MAP by phenylephrine infusion. Baseline MAP was the same for both groups (64.3 +/- 3.1 vs 67.2 +/- 2.0 mmHg; mean +/- SEM; Group I and H respectively). Baseline total CBF (tCBF; 0.68 +/- 0.03 vs 0.86 +/- 0.05) and hemispheric CBF (hCBF; 0.64 +/- 0.03 vs 0.96 +/- 0.06) were significantly greater in Group H; no significant difference between groups was seen for baseline posterior fossa CBF (pCBF; 0.79 +/- 0.06 vs 0.75 +/- 0.04). For each experiment a pressure-flow curve was generated by curvilinear regression analysis. Significantly greater phenylephrine concentrations were required for injections 2-5 in Group H. Mean slopes and intercepts were derived for each group. Within each group comparison of the pressure-flow curves for hCBF vs MAP and pCBF vs MAP showed autoregulation was less impaired in posterior fossa structures (cerebellum and brain stem) for both anaesthetic agents (P less than or equal to 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)