Effects of isoflurane on myocardial metabolism during postischaemic reperfusion in the rat.

In experiments on isolated rat heart lung preparation, the effects of isoflurane on myocardial metabolism during postischaemic reperfusion were evaluated with intramyocardial high energy phosphates, lactate and glycogen. Hearts were perfused for 10 min initially and made globally ischaemic for 8 min in ischaemic groups. Afterwards, they were reperfused for 12 min. Isoflurane was administered from 5 min after the start of perfusion to the end of reperfusion. There was no significant difference in myocardial lactate levels between ischaemic isoflurane and control groups. However, the ATP level in the hearts in the ischaemic isoflurane group was significantly higher than that in the ischaemic control group (17.96 +/- 1.31 vs 15.50 +/- 0.87; P less than 0.005). The administration of isoflurane to the isolated rat heart during pre- and post-ischaemia enhanced metabolic recovery in the postischaemic state.